Sailors Bay-sball victors

NEWPORT BEACH — In his eighth stop, at the seventh school of his 14-year high school baseball coaching career, first-year baseball coach Patrick Murphy says he is completely comfortable in Newport Harbor blue.

But when you’re 7-0 for the first time in, well, arguably forever, and you’ve just thumped Back Bay rival Corona del Mar, as the Sailors did in a nonleague doubleheader sweep Tuesday, what’s not to love?

“I feel at home here,” said Murphy, after watching the Tars cruise to a 16-4 win in Game 2, after producing an 11-5 triumph in the opener. “I really like being a Sailor. I love the campus, I love teaching here and the baseball program suits me really well. The kids are incredible and to have the support of the parents and the community that we have, I couldn’t ask for more.”

That community support was enhanced by the host Sailors effectiveness at the plate, on the mound, on the bases and in the field Tuesday.

It was the Sailors’ fourth straight win over Corona del Mar (2-5), which with three CIF Southern Section titles, including one in 2005 and another in 1999, has long been the Newport-Mesa program of record.

“They’ve got some athletes,” CdM Coach John Emme said of the unbeaten Sailors, who begin Sunset League play Friday against visiting Fountain Valley at 3:15 p.m. “They are a senior team and we knew they were probably going to be better than us this year. But that goes around.”

The Tars batted around in back-to-back innings in the second game, after more than doubling CdM’s run production in the opener, despite having exactly half as many hits.

But CdM helped dilute its 14-hit production in the opener by hitting into three double plays.

Further, CdM bolstered Newport’s seven-hit attack by issuing four walks, hitting six Sailors hitters and committing three errors.

CdM pitchers produced five walks and hit another four batters in the second game, in which the Sailors lashed 17 hits.

But CdM hitters kept pace for four innings of the opener, managing leads of 1-0 and 4-3, before the hosts broke a 5-5 deadlock with four runs in the fourth inning.

The Sailors’ outburst included an extra-base barrage that featured a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Matt Carpenter and a solo dinger by senior designated hitter Ryan Albert, the very next batter.