Larsen proved special
Evan Larsen believed he was on the way to a special year after his first start.
The right-hander took the mound in Corona del Mar High’s season opener at home in early March. Seven innings later, he threw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win against San Juan Hills, striking out six and walking one.
Larsen eventually gave up a hit, six days later in his second start, coming in another 2-0 win at home. What he did not allow Tustin in seven innings was a run.
For the first month of his junior season, Larsen had yet to give up an earned run. Larsen proved to be the reason why the Sea Kings turned things around from the previous year, when they dropped their first 10 games of the season, before stopping the skid on April Fool’s Day.
Larsen, the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Baseball Dream Team Player of the Year, was the one fooling hitters this year. In his first six appearances, five as a starter and one as a reliever, Larsen totaled 37 innings without allowing an earned run.
In each of the first five starts, Larsen went the distance, each time he earned the win, four via shutout. The next start by Larsen saw his impressive stretch of not allowing an earned run end.
In the fourth inning against Hesperia Oak Hills, Larsen gave up a solo home run to Solomon Bates. Larsen was OK with the future USC player blasting a hanging slider out of CdM’s park. After all, the homer didn’t affect Larsen’s pursuit of becoming the first pitcher in Orange County to notch his sixth victory.
Larsen recorded six of the Sea Kings’ first 11 wins, surpassing the 2014 team’s win total by three. With six weeks left in the season, the only problems for Larsen were in the form of blisters on his right middle finger.
A blister cut Larsen’s stellar campaign short, ruining CdM’s first CIF Southern Section playoff appearance in three years. Rancho Alamitos upset host CdM, 7-5, in a Division 3 first-round game.
“It’s just going to make us [hungrier] for next year,” Larsen said of the setback in which he was charged with five earned runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. “We’re expecting even a better season. We’re hoping to win [the Pacific Coast League] and do better in the playoffs.”
The Sea Kings plan to return a lot of talent off a team that went 17-10 overall and 9-6 in league, good for their first runner-up finish in five years. The nucleus includes future seniors Nick Premer (third baseman) and Brenden Hueston (center fielder), and three players, JT Schwartz (shortstop), Chazz Martinez (pitcher) and Preston Hartsell (outfielder), who started as freshmen.
Larsen said CdM would miss five recent graduates, including the right side of the infield, first baseman Teddy Stuka and second baseman Jake Hastings. But with Larsen, who has offers from Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State, coming back, the expectations are high for CdM.
Larsen finished 9-4 with a 1.20 earned-run average, earning All-CIF Southern Section Division 3 honors, as well as the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year award. Out of Larsen’s dozen starts, eight were complete games and five were shutouts.
Velocity is something Larsen, who struck out 63 and walked only 17 in 81 1/3 innings, hopes to gain in the off-season. He consistently threw in the high 80s, and his two-seam fastball showed a lot of movement. The pitch not only devastated hitters, but also Larsen’s catcher, Donato Di Ferdinando.
“I’m really proud of him because his [left] thumb took a beating,” Larsen said. “The two-seam fastball is hard on the thumb. He thought he broke it. Every game he got hurt, but he kept on catching me. He’s coming back next year.”
Di Ferdinando will be in a lot more pain next year if Larsen reaches his goal. Larsen wants to throw in the low 90s, and hit 95 on the radar gun.
John Emme, CdM’s coach, said he wouldn’t be shocked if it happens.
“He’s always been a great competitor,” said Emme, adding that Larsen, who batted .250 with 11 runs batted in and six doubles, is also talking with the University of Cincinnati. “Now he’s probably one of the hardest workers we have.”
Below are the rest of the players on this year’s Dream Team:
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Brett Super
P | Sage Hill
The sophomore pitcher was dominant for the Lightning. Super went 9-0 with a 0.88 earned-run average, striking out 104, while walking only 31 in 72 innings. The right-hander threw a perfect game and a no-hitter, garnering All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 honors and the Academy League MVP. Super is a two-time Dream Team selection.
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Chazz Martinez
P | Corona del Mar
The freshman pitcher entered the season with some fanfare and he produced for the Sea Kings. Martinez finished 5-2 with a 1.13 earned-run average, tops for CdM. In 49 2/3 innings, the southpaw struck out 30 and walked 20. Martinez, who tossed two complete games, made the All-Pacific Coast League second team.
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Liam Ogburn
P | Newport Harbor
The senior pitcher turned into the Sailors’ workhorse after they lost Shaun Vetrovec and Connor Seabold to graduation. Ogburn went 5-6, almost accounting for half of Newport Harbor’s wins, with a save. He had a 3.78 earned-run average, fanning 45 and walking 32 in 64 2/3 innings. Ogburn is heading to Cal Lutheran.
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Connor Brown
P | Estancia
The junior pitcher posted a 4-6 record with a 2.23 earned-run average and threw a no-hitter for the Eagles. Brown, a first-team All-Orange Coast League member, struck out 51 in 50 1/3 innings. As a hitter, he batted .325 with one home run and 24 runs batted in. Brown is a two-time Dream Team selection.
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Tobias Bush
C | Sage Hill
The junior catcher caught a perfect game and a no-hitter for the Lightning in a little more than a month’s time. Bush calls a good game and rarely does Brett Super shake him off. Bush, who hit .182 with 10 runs batted in, is a second-team All-Academy League pick.
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Teddy Stuka
1B | Corona del Mar
The senior first baseman provided the Sea Kings with a big target at first and a quality bat. The 6-foot-7 Stuka, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League honoree, batted .342 with 10 runs batted in, four doubles and a triple. Stuka is bound for Johns Hopkins University.
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Kellen Ochi
2B | Sage Hill
The senior could play anywhere and second base is where he lands on the Dream Team. Ochi, bound for Lewis & Clark College, hit .312 with 14 runs batted in and five doubles. The first-team All-Academy League member scored 18 runs and stole 18 of 19 bases.
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Nick Premer
3B | Corona del Mar
The junior third baseman hit .391, sharing the area’s top average. Premer, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League member, had one home run, 12 runs batted in and three doubles. Premer, who scored 14 runs and walked 11 times, had a .476 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage.
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JT Schwartz
SS | Corona del Mar
The freshman shortstop was one of three in his class to heavily contribute to the Sea Kings’ first postseason appearance since 2012. Schwartz hit .380 with a team-best 16 runs batted in and a double. The second-team All-Pacific Coast League performer finished with a .431 on-base percentage.
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Grady Conner
OF | Costa Mesa
The junior center fielder sparked the Mustangs. The Orange Coast League first-teamer batted .391 with 12 runs batted in, four triples, nine doubles and 18 runs. He had a .656 slugging percentage and a .494 on-base percentage, and stole 14 of 15 bases. Conner is a two-time Dream Team selection.
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Rigsby Duncan
OF | Newport Harbor
The senior right fielder boasted a strong arm for the Sailors, throwing out three runners at the plate. Duncan hit .286 with one home run, 11 runs batted in and nine doubles. He recorded a save against rival Corona del Mar, contributing to the Battle of the Bay sweep.
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Brenden Hueston
OF | Corona del Mar
The junior center fielder covered a lot of ground with his speed for the Sea Kings. Hueston batted .292 with nine runs batted in and three doubles. He was six for six in stolen-base attempts. Hueston’s best game was a three-for-four performance in an 8-1 win against Northwood.
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Conner Bock
DH | Sage Hill
The junior is the designated hitter because of his bat. Bock led the area in home runs (six), runs batted in (34), runs (31) and slugging percentage (.717). He hit .333 with four triples, four doubles and stole 16 of 19 bases, earning him All-CIF Southern Section Division 6 and first-team All-Academy League accolades. Bock is a three-time Dream Team selection.
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Parker Reposa
U | Sage Hill
The senior utility player led the Lightning to a historic undefeated Academy League title. Reposa, a first-team All-Academy League pick, hit .280 with two home runs, 20 runs batted in, five doubles, two triples, 12 steals and 23 walks. As a pitcher, he went 5-3 with a 1.11 earned-run average. Reposa is a two-time Dream Team selection.