High School Baseball: CdM stays hot, moves to 4-0

Wow, what a difference a year can make.

That statement can be easily applied to the Corona del Mar High baseball team, which began last year 0-10 and didn’t earn its first win until April 1, Fools Day.

But this year, the Sea Kings are making fools of everyone. Junior pitcher Evan Larsen delivered a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win over Tustin that gave CdM a 4-0 start, all wins coming in the Newport Elks Tournament.

Larsen described last year’s team as a “laughingstock.” No one is laughing now.

CdM will play for the Foothill Division championship against Trabuco Hills at Hart Park in Orange Saturday at 3 p.m.

“I don’t remember starting 4-0 ever,” said John Emme in his 18th season as CdM’s coach. “I think this is probably our best start. So this is pretty exciting. We knew coming in that we were going to have really good pitching and defense and we’ve definitely shown that.”

Larsen, who threw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over San Juan Hills March 5, struck out four with two walks while giving up five hits.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander, who has an offer from Cal State Fullerton, was consistently at 88-89 mph.

“It’s a dream come true right now,” Larsen said of his hot start. “I’m fortunate to have a good defense. We have a hot team, and young with three freshmen, Preston Hartsell, Chazz Martinez, JT Schwartz.”

Schwartz, the starting shortstop, has had an amazing start to his varsity career, going eight for 13 in his first four games. He went three for three against Tustin.

“It’s a joy to watch,” Emme said.

Emme was also pleased to see some strong at-bats provided by Jake Hastings and Larsen, who drove in one run each.

Hastings’ RBI came with two strikes in the fourth inning, when his sacrifice fly scored Hartsell.

Larsen’s groundout brought in Brenden Heuston, who reached on a single in the third inning.