CdM battles Crespi at home

The old coach and his former player saw a high baseball playoff game Friday like none either had ever been a part of.

Next for Corona del Mar High Coach John Emme, after his Sea Kings knocked out Don Lugo of Chino, 19-16, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs, is another game.

This one is against Emme’s former high school rival, Crespi of Encino.

Oh, would his former St. Francis Coach Jim O’Conner love to see this one. It starts today when Corona del Mar (19-8) plays host to Crespi (22-5-1) at 3:15 p.m.

It’s literally Round 2 for the Sea Kings.

“Will be fun,” said Emme, smiling after experiencing a slugfest with Don Lugo as the two teams combined for 32 hits, four home runs, five doubles and one triple.

“Crespi was one of my rivals in high school. It’s all coming full circle.”

It’s been a few years since Emme, a 1982 graduate of the La Cañada school, has faced Crespi.

The Celts, who advanced to the second round after a 3-2 win against West Covina, are dangerous. They’re winners of 10 straight, the champions of the Mission League, which Emme’s old team plays in.

Emme’s not expecting another high-scoring affair if CdM plans to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. Crespi has only allowed the opposition to score in double figures twice this season.

The Celts, ranked fifth in the final Division III poll, were involved in a pitcher’s duel against West Covina. It was tied, 2-2, before Sean Gilmartin hit a walk-off solo home run to put Crespi into the next round.

Five of Crespi’s last 10 games have been decided by three or fewer runs, the last three by one run. Crespi boasts a solid one-two starting staff, with juniors Tyler Johnson and Gilmartin. Offensively, the team plays small ball, moving guys over instead of waiting for home runs to drive in runs.

Corona del Mar will most likely send USC-bound senior Vinnie St. John (3-3) to the mound. The right-hander earned the save Friday with a scoreless seventh inning.

“It wasn’t like we gave it to them,” Don Lugo Coach Joe Marcos said. “They just hit everything we threw. They’ve got some good hitters.”

Emme credits his team’s offensive surge to Michael DiRocco. The Cal State Los Angeles-bound senior homered for the first time, a two-run shot, and also singled in a run Friday.

CdM senior shortstop Jake Lemmerman, headed for Duke, leads the team with a .446 average and 10 home runs. Senior Austin Elliott is second on the team in hitting (.435) and homers (three). Elliott and Lemmerman share the team lead with 31 RBIs.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].