In a game that was closer than the final score would indicate, the Sea Kings Varsity defeated the Capistrano Valley Christian Eagles 10-5 on Wednesday. The lead changed hands four times in the first three frames before the Sea Kings grabbed the lead for good in the top of the third inning. Ultimately, a Sea Kings offense that tallied ten hits and drew eight walks, coupled with shutdown pitching out of the bullpen was too much for the Eagles to overcome.
The Sea Kings jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Brady Gadol (‘25) opened the game with a line drive double to right field and was then driven in by Princeton-commit Vincent Menard’s (‘25) single.
A two-run homer by the Eagles in the bottom of the first inning put Capistrano Valley Christian up by one run.
The Sea Kings answered immediately in the top of the second inning when they opened the frame with two singles and a walk, and then scored two runs on an RBI single by Stevie Jones (‘26) and a ground out by Ganon Overfelt (‘25).
Again, the Eagles struck back and took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when back-to-back one-out doubles plated three runs to make the score 5-3. The Sea Kings made a call to the bullpen and summoned Noah Bertrand (‘25) who was able to induce two ground ball outs to choke off the Eagles’ rally.
The scoring pace continued as the Sea Kings reclaimed the lead in the top of the third inning by scoring four runs. The inning started with William Chiechi (‘25) being hit by a pitch. Chiechi advanced to second base on a wild pitch and to third base on Charlie Kaster’s single to right field. When Kaster stole second base, an error on the Eagles’ shortstop allowed Chiechi to score. After Jack Phillips (‘28) walked, Kaster and Phillips moved up a base on a wild pitch, and then scored on Gadol’s single to put the Sea Kings up by a run. Another wild pitch put Gadol on third base and he scored on Menard’s RBI single to center field.
The bullpens for both teams took control of the game following the top of the third inning. There was minimal action on the base paths for either team until the Sea Kings came to bat in the top of the seventh inning holding a two run lead.
The Eagles started the top of the seventh inning by walking the bases loaded for the Sea Kings. A single by Phillips and a sacrifice fly by Gadol brought home two runs. In an echo of the third inning, the Sea Kings scored their final run of the game when Phillips stole second base and Kaster was able to score from third base when the Eagles’ shortstop made an error.
A leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning turned out to be harmless, as Sea Kings reliever Stonehill College-commit Marcello Anelli retired the next three Eagles to end the game.
Bertrand and Anelli were excellent out of the bullpen for the Sea Kings. After squelching the Eagles’ second inning rally, Bertrand went on to pitch two innings of one hit ball, allowing zero runs. Anelli followed Bertrand on the bump and closed the game with three and two-thirds innings of work in which he allowed no runs on two hits, while striking out seven and walking none.
Gadol led the offense for the Sea Kings, going two for three with a double. The Sea Kings center fielder added a walk, a sacrifice fly, two runs and three RBI for the game, as he extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Hitting behind Gadol in the lineup, Menard went two for five with two RBI and a stolen base.
Chiechi sacrificed his body for the team, as he was hit by pitches twice. The senior also drew a walk and scored two runs despite being held hitless. His on-base streak now stands at seven games and he has scored a run in four straight games.
Kaster reached based a team-high four times as he coupled a pair of walks with two singles. The Sea Kings backstop made good use of his time on the base paths, as he stole two bases and scored three runs.
Second sacker Phillips also stole two bases for the Sea Kings as part of his two for three day at the plate. He added a walk, two runs and an RBI to his stat sheet.
Left fielder JJ Haley (‘28) singled in the first inning to extend his on-base streak to four games.
The Sea Kings Varsity closes the regular season on Saturday, May 3 when they host the La Quinta Blackhawks.