DIVISION IV BASEBALL: LETTING ONE GET AWAY : CHAMINADE ERRORS COSTLY IN DEFEAT CDM 10 CHAMINADE 9.

Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer

Chaminade High's offense was in full force Friday afternoon. But the only thing the Eagles didn't bring to Corona del Mar was their defense.

A two-out fielding error by Chaminade shortstop Nate Dunlap in the bottom of the seventh inning scored the game-winning run from second base as fourth-seeded Corona del Mar managed a 10-9 come-from-behind victory in the Southern Section Division IV baseball quarterfinals.

The Eagles (19-9), who held a 7-2 lead through their half of the third inning, committed four errors overall, leading to six unearned runs for the Sea Kings (18-8).

Corona del Mar, which captured the Sea View League title for the first time in 18 seasons, faces top-seeded Westminster La Quinta in the semifinals Tuesday.

``Defense has been our strength all year,'' said Chaminade coach Scott Drootin. ``We don't make too many errors. If you don't play good defense in the big game, you're not going to win.

``You gotta give those guys (Corona del Mar) credit. They hit the ball hard.''

Chaminade hit the ball hard as well.

Of the Eagles' eight hits, four were doubles. Junior Mike Nesbit, the team's No. 9 hitter, had a run-scoring double in the third that gave Chaminade a 7-2 lead.

But the errors caught up with the Eagles, especially in the seventh.

Sophomore right-handed reliever Jason Urquidez, who came in for starter Dunlap in the fourth, started the inning by giving up a double to junior David Beser.

Urquidez (7-4) bounced back, getting pinch-hitter Andrew Johns to pop up a bunt to junior catcher Jon Higashi and senior Brett Elliston to fly out to senior first baseman Bob Berger.

Senior Ty Harper followed with a hard hit grounder to Dunlap, but the ball bounced off his glove and into shallow left-center field, scoring Beser to complete the comeback.

``One of the things we've been doing all year has been coming back in games,'' said Corona del Mar coach John Emme, who graduated from St. Francis in 1982.

``We know we have the potent offense. We were down 8-0 to Newport Harbor earlier this year and came back and won. We're patient and we know we can put runs on the board.''

Chaminade took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on senior Spencer Gordon's run-scoring single with two outs. But Corona del Mar rallied in its half of the first, scoring two unearned runs with two outs.

The Eagles then exploded for four runs to retake the lead in the second 5-2 and increased it to 7-2 on Nesbit's double down the right-field line.

But once again the Sea Kings managed another two-out rally, scoring three more unearned runs to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Junior Ryan Soroka's sacrifice fly in the fourth gave Chaminade an 8-5 edge.

Then Corona del Mar started to earn its runs.

The Sea Kings received back-to-back solo home runs from Alex Bottom and Beser with one out in the fifth off Dunlap, making it 8-7 Chaminade.