The Sea Kings Varsity was shut out for the second straight game, losing to the Newport Harbor Sailors 1-0, as the Sailors capitalized on a seventh inning error to score the game’s only run.
Sea Kings starter Stevie Jones (‘26) was masterful on the bump, throwing a complete game, while allowing only three hits, striking out six and walking none.
Jones took a one-hitter into the top of the seventh inning before Newport Harbor struck with a one-out double to left field. The Sailors’ next batter hit a ground ball for what should have been the second out, but an error allowed the Sailors to fill up first and second bases. Jones’ next pitch induced a ground ball to second base for a 4-3 putout, which, absent the error, would have ended the Sailors’ threat. Newport Harbor’s next batter took advantage of the four-out inning and lined a single into center field to drive in the game’s sole run.
Despite generating only two hits on the day, the Sea Kings did have chances to score in both the second and third innings. In the second inning, the Sea Kings coupled a two-out walk and a single with a wild pitch to place runners on second and third, but couldn’t bring the men home. Similarly, in the third inning, the Sea Kings had traffic on the bases after a single and a Sailors’ error, but ended up stranding the runners.
Third basemen William Chiechi (‘25) lead off the fourth inning by being hit by a pitch and extended his season-long on-base streak to nine games in the process.
By giving up no earned runs, Jones (3-1) saw his ERA drop to 0.68 on the season. He sports a 6.5:1 strikeout to walk ratio along with a WHIP of 0.78 for the campaign.
The Sea Kings Varsity and Newport Harbor will face each other for the last time this season on Friday, March 21.