Hauser gets the job done

CORONA DEL MAR ? With an opportunity to regain a starting job, Corona del Mar High senior pitcher Matt Hauser finished the job Monday in the Beach Pit Classic.

Hauser’s complete-game five-hitter helped the Sea Kings post a 10-1 baseball triumph over Oxnard in a consolation quarterfinal at Corona del Mar High.

Hauser, who improved to 2-0, allowed only two runners past second base. He struck out just one but did not walk a batter in a 75-pitch effort that included 51 strikes.

“He was great,” Sea Kings Coach John Emme said of Hauser, who had been struggling until recently. “He was keeping the ball down, moving it in and out, letting them put the bat on the ball and letting our guys make the plays behind him.

“He saved the day for us Thursday [a come-from-behind Pacific Coast League win over Laguna Beach]. We’re going to need him, so I’m pretty happy he has turned it around here lately.”

Hauser said he had battled control problems while falling out of the mix in a deep CdM starting rotation.

“I’ve got four guys who can all start for us now,” Emme said. “A week ago, I would have said we had three.”

Hauser threw more than 11 pitches in only two innings, and did not exceed 15 in any frame.

While Hauser was peppering the strike zone, primarily with his slider, CdM (9-5) was pounding out 13 hits against two Yellowjacket hurlers.

The Sea Kings gave Hauser all he would need with a three-run first, as they had five straight hitters reach, four on singles, after two were out.

Michael DiRocco, Chris Rosen and Nick Peterson strung together RBI singles to get the hosts rolling.

Junior Vinnie St. John doubled in a run in the fourth and senior Matt Doran sparked a six-run sixth with a three-run home run, the first of his varsity career.

Junior Gavin Juarez laced a two-run, pinch-hit double to the gap in left-center field and eventually scored on pinch-hitter Michael Ford’s RBI groundout.

The Sea Kings’ attack featured 11 players with hits.

Doran was 2 for 3, while St. John was 2 for 4 to lead the way.

“Today was a nice way to bounce back after losing Saturday [9-3 to JSerra],” Emme said.

Hauser said he was glad to get a start, after coming out of the pen recently.

“I was excited to get the ball today,” he said. “I just tried to pitch my game. I think I only made one mistake.”

The mistake which he referred to was a one-out home run by Oxnard leadoff hitter Conner Beltran in the third inning.

It was only CdM’s second complete game this season.

Oxnard fell to 7-4-1.

CdM meets Rancho Alamitos in a consolation semifinal today at noon at Costa Mesa High.