Whispering thunder

Steve Virgen

Just before winning the Tournament of Champions District 62 Minor B

title, the Costa Mesa National Little League Dodgers displayed one of

the main reasons for their success with a light moment.

The Dodgers defeated the Ocean View Tigers, 8-3, Wednesday at the

Huntington Valley Little League fields. Throughout their season they

have depended on unity, intelligence and a refreshing calmness. That

was shown shortly after player announcements ended, before the

championship game began.

The young players of the Dodgers, ages 8-10, stood and waited for

the national anthem, as player announcements ensued on two other

fields. During five minutes, Manager Kirk Stone noticed that the

standing around time could have led to growing anticipation.

So, the Dodgers played the telephone game. Along the third

baseline, one player would whisper to the next a statement that Stone

began. If the message came to the end of the line the same as it

started, everyone won.

“See the ball. Hit the ball,” Stone said while smiling and leaning

to whisper.

Not surprising to Stone, the message ended without a mistake.

Throughout the bottom of the first inning, the Dodgers (22-4), the

designated home team, actually did not have to hit the ball. Yet,

perhaps because they avoided the stress that comes before

championship games, they scored five runs, taking advantage of five

walks, one hit and an error. The Tigers (18-7) walked six over the

final four innings.

The Ocean View team, which finished second in its league, could

not rally from the 5-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the second and

one in the fifth. The Tigers were also prevented from gathering

momentum because of Dodger pitcher Matt Carlyle, who made his first

appearance of the tournament to start the fourth.

He struck out four in the final three innings, as he fascinated

spectators with his confidence and his windup. Carlyle, with curly

blond hair that puffed around the outside of his hat, squatted low to

start the windup and maintained his crouch-like position, while

swaying to the right and forward just before the delivery.

Apparently he had control problems before the tournament began.

But before the game, Stone noticed Carlyle was hitting his spots,

while warming up.

“He was popping the glove,” Stone said.

Carlyle said he became excited when Stone turned to him to pitch

the final three innings.

“I was ready,” Carlyle said.

The Dodgers have turned to Kannon Stone to close the game during

the tournament, yet Carlyle had the rhythm.

“The way he was throwing, it was great to leave him out there,”

the manager said.

Carlyle, who also contributed one run, one hit and one RBI,

allowed one run and two hits. He pitched two perfect innings in the

fourth and the sixth.

Third baseman Nicky Roco fielded a ground ball for the final out,

as his accurate throw reached first baseman Hans Anderle, setting off

a celebration that was enjoyed by the Dodgers and the families from

the Cosa Mesa National Little League.

“I’m so proud of every single one of you,” Kirk Stone told his

players afterward. “This is not a one-person team. It’s not a

two-person team. This is an everybody team.”

After Stone’s speech, the players huddled and broke away, while

shouting, “Go big blue!”

The Dodgers outhit the Tigers, 8-5. Jake Spielberger went 2 for 3

with two RBIs, while Carlyle, Eddie Bisoso, Riley Stack, Erin

Kincaid, Kannon Stone and Anderle also added one hit each. Stack, the

Dodgers No. 9 hitter, provided a double to start the fourth inning,

and Kincaid, the No. 10 hitter, followed with a single.

Juan Valdez, who collected an RBI and one run, Brodie Pierce, who

played in the outfield, and Brandon Haas, who drew two walks, also

keyed the win for the Dodgers.

Kirk Stone said his team’s defense was also important.

Left-handed pitcher Victor Trujillo, who delivered the

game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the sixth in the Dodgers’

5-4 quarterfinal win Saturday, struck out six in the first three

innings. He held the Tigers scoreless in the first and third.

“What really got us here wasn’t our hitting,” said the manager who

was assisted by Jim Carlyle and Hans Anderle. “Mentally and

defensively we are so sound. This team is probably the smartest in

the league. That’s why we are here. And, because we played as a

family.”

The Dodgers opened the tournament with a 16-2 win over the Costa

Mesa American Yankees June 19. That was the last game for Andrew

Karlson, who left for a family vacation to New York. Kirk Stone

credited Karlson for his contributions. Karlson was one of several

players who improved throughout the season.

Trujillo, who once walked nine batters in one of the first games

of the season, led the Dodgers to their quarterfinal victory over the

Robinwood Pirates. He recorded three no-hit innings.

Valdez connected for a grand slam and Trujillo produced a two-run

blast in the Dodgers’ 13-10 victory over the Ocean View Rangers

Monday.

The Dodgers entered the tournament as the CMNLL’s No. 1 seed after

winning a playoff over the Giants, who lost to the Tigers in the

other semifinal 4-3, Monday.