CdM’s Larsen named PCL’s top pitcher
Corona del Mar High junior pitcher Evan Larsen garnered the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year award by playing an instrumental role in the baseball team’s runner-up finish in league and its first CIF Southern Section postseason appearance since 2012.
Larsen, who has scholarship offers from Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State, is on the first team with CdM junior third baseman Nick Premer and senior first baseman Teddy Stuka.
The Sea Kings (17-10, 9-6 in league) lost at home in the first round to Rancho Alamitos, 7-5.
Larsen went 9-4 with a 1.20 earned run average. The right-hander threw eight complete games, five for shutouts. In 811/3 innings, Larsen struck out 63 and walked 17.
Larsen hit .250 with 11 runs batted in and six doubles.
Premer batted .391 with one home run, 12 RBIs and three doubles. He scored 14 runs, walked 11 times, had a .476 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage.
Stuka, who’s bound for John Hopkins University, hit .342 with 10 RBIs, four doubles and one triple.
Corona del Mar freshman pitcher Chazz Martinez and freshman shortstop JT Schwartz are on the second team.
Beckman’s Matt McLain was the Pacific Coast League MVP.
— From staff reports
Trio on first team
Estancia High junior pitcher Connor Brown and sophomore left fielder Jeff Alai, as well as Costa Mesa junior center fielder Grady Conner, received first-team All-Orange Coast League accolades in baseball.
Brown and Alai helped the Eagles (10-15, 7-8 in league) to a fourth-place finish in league, while Conner’s Mustangs (4-21, 3-11) took fifth.
Neither program qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
Brown, a repeat first-team selection, went 4-6 with a 2.23 earned-run average. The right-hander struck out 51 in 501/3 innings, while walking 22. Brown tossed four complete games and one shutout.
Brown, who also played third base, hit .325 with one home run and 24 runs batted in. He produced eight doubles and one triple, and scored 16 runs.
Alai batted .311 with 14 RBIs, three doubles and 18 runs.
Conner, a two-time first-team pick, hit .391 with 12 RBIs, four triples, nine doubles and 18 runs. He was 14 for 15 in stolen-base attempts.
Estancia senior Aaron Boaitey, a first baseman and designated hitter, and sophomore Tyler Ross, an outfielder and pitcher, made the second team.
Calvary Chapel’s Daniel Morales was the Orange Coast League MVP.
— From staff reports
Tars’ duo lauded
Newport Harbor High juniors Josh Spicer and Jeremiah Sheldon have been named second-team All-Sunset League in baseball.
Spicer made it as a designated hitter and Sheldon as a utility player.
Spicer hit .419 with five runs batted in, three doubles and three runs.
Sheldon batted .284 with eight RBIs, two doubles and 14 runs. He also pitched, going 2-2 with a 2.38 earned-run average with 12 strikeouts in 142/3 innings.
Newport Harbor (11-17, 2-13 in league) failed to reach the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs after it placed last for the fourth time in five years.
Huntington Beach’s Daniel Amaral was named Sunset League MVP.
— From staff reports