Dodgers coast to first-round win

Steve Virgen

The Costa Mesa National Little League Dodgers gave catcher Andrew

Karlson the ultimate going away present Wednesday at LeBard Park in

Huntington Beach. The Minor B Dodgers defeated the Costa Mesa

American Yankees, 16-2, in the first round of the District 62

Tournament of Champions.

Karlson played his last game for the Dodgers because he is going

on a family vacation to New York. After the game, Karlson, the

Dodgers’ starting catcher, hugged his coaches and Manager Kirk Stone.

“We’re going to miss you, buddy,” Stone told Karlson. “It was so

much fun watching you improve this season.”

Karlson was one of several Dodgers who contributed to the victory

that was called after five innings. He scored one run, delivered an

RBI and went 2 for 2 with a walk. The Dodgers, the first-place team

in CMNLL Minor B, scored four runs in the first inning, four in the

third, two in the fourth and then another six in the fifth. The fifth

inning featured three straight doubles by Matt Carlyle, Kannon Stone

and Victor Trujillo.

Despite the hefty offensive performance, Kirk Stone was most

impressed with the Dodgers’ defense, which caused parents of the

players to cheer loudly, especially after three plays. The Minor B

division includes 8-10-year-olds, yet the Dodgers were defying their

age.

In the bottom of the first inning, shortstop Kannon Stone made a

nice catch on a high fly ball. Eddie Bisoso did the same from third

base in the fourth inning, and in the third, Riley Stack gloved a fly

ball in right field.

“We made some great defensive plays,” Kirk Stone said. “It was

unbelievable. Our defense has been the best in the [CMNLL]. When we

make plays like the ones we did, that takes the air out of them.”

The Yankees, who finished second in the CMALL, committed several

errors. Their pitchers, Ryan Weber, Josh Rivera and Jaylon Peery,

combined for six strikeouts, yet allowed 13 walks and hit two

batters, as the Dodgers took advantage.

“Execution,” Yankees Manager John Salyer said in reference to what

wins baseball games at the Minor B level. “Bottom line, defense wins.

We made the errors and they didn’t.”

Weber pitched a scoreless inning in the second, providing the

Yankees with an opportunity to get back in the game. They were down

4-1, after Peery scored a run in the first inning. He reached on a

walk and advanced to second and third on passed balls. Michael Block

produced an RBI groundout to prevent the shutout.

Kyle Benter, who played second base for the Yankees, also scored

in the bottom of the third after he came across the plate on a

delayed steal.

For the Dodgers, Carlyle, Kannon Stone, Nicky Roco, and Hans

Anderle scored two runs each, while Trujillo, Juan Valdez, Karlson,

Bisoso, Erin Kinkade, Stack and Brandon Haas added one run apiece. As

a result, each player on the team scored.

Trujillo, a left-hander, pitched the only perfect inning of the

game in the fourth. He struck out two batters, and in between the two

punch-outs, Bisoso made his aforementioned catch. Bisoso started as

pitcher for the Dodgers and delivered three strikeouts. Anderle

pitched the third and had one strikeout.