St. John spins four-hitter for CdM

Bryce Alderton

Vinnie St. John said he was shaking with nerves during a bullpen

warm-up session prior to his first varsity start Friday.

By the end, the Corona del Mar High sophomore had Laguna Beach

hitters shaking their heads.

St. John spotted his pitches with precision, tallying nine

strikeouts and only one walk (intentional) in a four-hitter to help

the Sea Kings win their seventh straight and remain undefeated in the

Pacific Coast League following a 7-0 victory over host Laguna Beach.

CdM (8-2, 4-0 in league) took advantage of five Breaker errors to

record its fourth shutout this season and second this week. The Sea

Kings blanked University, 3-0, Monday.

Only one Breaker reached third and St. John went to a three-ball

count on three of 27 batters faced. He retired the side in order

twice, including striking out the final two hitters to end the game.

“He threw first-pitch strikes, kept the ball down and controlled

the outside corner,” CdM Coach John Emme said. “He dominated.”

St. John, who tallied his first save in a victory over Northwood

March 18, said teammates told him to relax and that they would back

him up.

The defense did its part, committing just one error despite

fielders on the left side looking into the sun for a majority of the

contest on Laguna’s re-configured field.

Of the Sea Kings’ 21 putouts, nine came via the groundball.

Sophomore shortstop Jake Lemmerman and senior second baseman Mitch

Folks each had three assisted putouts.

“Some of their players pull the ball, so I tried to go outside,”

said St. John, who hasn’t allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings this

season. “I just tried to keep the ball low in the strike zone and get

groundballs.

“The more runs we got, the more confident I felt.”

The Sea Kings steadily increased their lead throughout, scoring in

five of seven innings.

Andy Frenkiel walked and scored on Tyler Lance’s RBI groundout in

the first before the Sea Kings upped the lead to 3-0 in the second

with two unearned runs. Nick Peterson and Folks both scored on

successive bunts by catcher Andrew Williamson and Taylor Alston after

two almost identical errant throws by the Laguna pitcher to third.

Lance beat out a grounder to short to lead off the third. Tyler

Ray was then hit by a pitch, one of four for CdM, and Peterson

advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Lance scored on a

sacrifice fly by Folks to make it 4-0.

CdM scored twice more in the seventh, both coming on Breaker

miscues. Alston ripped a one-out double down the right-field line and

went to third on Frenkiel’s single to left.

With first and third and one out, a high throw on a pickoff

attempt at third allowed Alston to score with Lemmerman at the plate.

Frenkiel moved to third on the play and scored on Lemmerman’s

grounder to third.

Emme said the Sea Kings have needed to manufacture runs this

season any way they can.

“We haven’t hit the ball well, so we try to bunt guys over and

pressure the defense,” Emme said. “We are not going to hit 35, 40

home runs a year.”

CdM had seven hits -- Lance had the only multiple-hit game -- and

five walks against the Breakers (6-4, 2-2).

Frenkiel went 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two walks while

Lance finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and one RBI.

Folks went 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly, tallied one RBI and

scored two runs. Lemmerman walked twice and added two RBIs.

Laguna’s best scoring chance came in the sixth after leadoff

hitter Jeff Bolar reached base on an error and stole second.

But St. John struck out the next two batters and after an

intentional walk to Noah Brewster, whom Emme called the Breakers’

most potent slugger, retired Jason Wahler on a comebacker to the

mound.

St. John’s performance was a welcome sight for Emme and the

pitching staff.

“Three league games in a week is something we’re not used to, but

Vinnie threw well for us,” Emme said.

The Sea Kings now prepare for a league showdown and rematch of

last season’s CIF Southern Section Division IV final against Tesoro,

who entered Friday also undefeated in the PCL, at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday

at CdM.

“It’s going to be electric,” Emme said. “Coach [Rick] Brail is

making it a mission to beat us.”

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 7,

Laguna Beach 0

Score by Innings

*--*

CdM 1 2 1 0 1 0 2 - 7 7 1

Laguna 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 4 5

*--*

St. John and Williamson; Bolar, Pickett (5) and Brewster. W -- St.

John, 1-0. L -- Bolar, 0-2. 2B -- Alston (CdM).