High School Baseball: Larsen’s gem does it for CdM in PCL opener

IRVINE — The players from the Corona del Mar High baseball team hung around after the game, standing close to each other just outside the dugout at Irvine.

At this time, it was OK to reflect on a win, as they watched their star pitcher Evan Larsen and Coach John Emme interviewed for Cox Cable Television.

It didn’t really seem like a cool team bonding moment, but in a way it was.

Larsen pitched a gem and credited his defense after a 1-0 win to open Pacific Coast League play on Friday.

While it was a strong team effort, everyone at Irvine High and everyone who will watch on the cable show will realize: Nothing could be finer than Corona del Mar’s Niner.

The junior right-handed pitcher, who wears jersey No. 9, delivered a complete-game, two-hit shutout that included eight strikeouts, no walks and 11 groundouts. He hasn’t allowed a run in his three starts that began with a no-hitter.

“He’s special,” Emme said. “He put the ball where ever he wanted it. He was pounding the ball at the knees and below. That [catcher’s] glove wasn’t moving. When you have that type of command and you can put three pitches where ever you want you’re going to be awfully tough to beat, especially when you’re throwing that hard.”

Said Larsen: “It was a pretty good performance overall. I was confident during the whole game. I didn’t let my head down. I just kept on throwing strikes.”

Irvine’s Andrew Xiao broke up Larsen’s bid for a perfect game in the fifth inning after a single to right field. Larsen said he was thinking about a no-hitter up until that point. He said he just had to reassert himself and continue to throw strikes.

“He’s the real deal,” Irvine first-year coach Ryan Brucker said of Larsen. “He came out and gave it to us. I know he’s a junior and it’s not going to be fun facing him these next two years. But we have to find a way to compete better. He has command of his own. Our guys need to find a way to compete. That seemed like it was a real easy day for him.”

CdM (5-3) produced five hits in a game that lasted roughly 75 minutes. Irvine dropped to 4-4.

Freshman shortstop JT Schwartz provided the clutch hit in the third inning. Junior Kevin McCarthy reached on a single and stole second base. With one out, Schwartz singled down the first-base line to bring in the game-winning run. Connor Buchanan, Robby Hurst and Jake Hastings also had one hit each.

“I just try to be relaxed and have fun, and whatever happens happens,” Schwartz said of hitting with runners on base. “I’m not really thinking too much. I just let it happen.”

Emme and McCarthy noted a much improved defense that has enabled CdM to contend rather than sink as it did last year amid an 0-10 start.

“We’re just together as a unit,” McCarthy said. “Everyone is pulling for each other. We’re working hard. It feels good to start [league play] strong.”

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Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 1, Irvine 0

CdM 001 000 0 – 1 5 0

Irvine 000 000 0 – 0 2 0

Larsen and DiFerdinando; McKinney and Kouri. W – Larsen, 3-1. L – McKinney, 1-2.