DREAM TEAM

Bryce Alderton

As quickly as the Little League season beckons each March, so does

its conclusion signal that summer is in full-swing and the dog days

of August are here again.

The end is never predictable, but the all-stars always are a part

of it. They spend as little as a few days to a few weeks competing

against the best teams from cities such as Tustin, Anaheim, Mission

Viejo, Irvine, even Fontana.

This year saw the Newport Harbor Baseball Association Bronco A

(11- and 12-year-old) All-Stars advance further than any team in the

league’s history, gaining entry to the South Region tournament, two

events away from the World Series.

Four players from that team are represented on the Daily Pilot’s

2003 Dream Team, which features nine deserving boys.

Newport Beach Little League’s finest went toe-to-toe in a

memorable 1-0 win for the American team against its National League

counterparts in the District 55 tournament.

The talent of Costa Mesa Little League was on full display during

this year’s Mayor’s Cup, won by the National team in the third and

decisive game against the American squad.

There are other countless games that would take up more than the

space allowed to describe how the season unfolded.

From the thousands of players who began this season in March, only

a handful are selected to each league’s all-star team. Some are then

chosen for the Dream Team.

These nine players made their mark on the 2003 season, both in the

regular and all-star seasons, giving their teams the best chance to

win each time they stepped on the field.

They lasted through the end, to the final out, of another spring

and summer in Newport-Mesa.

* Fletcher Della Grotta (Newport Beach National Diamondbacks,

Newport Beach National All-Stars).

Completed his third season in the majors by pitching two strong

games for Newport Beach National All-Stars. The 12-year-old threw two

complete games, allowing three runs, while striking out 13 and

walking only four batters in that span. Newport National won its

District 55 All-Star Tournament opener, 13-2, with Della Grotta on

the mound.

Della Grotta and fellow Dream Team selection Mitch Sands dueled in

a 1-0 win for the Newport Beach American All-Stars to eliminate their

National counterparts in the District 55 tournament.

The 5-foot-3, 102-pound Della Grotta also played second base for

the Diamondbacks and for Newport National.

* Josh Ryding (Costa Mesa National Dodgers, Costa Mesa National

All-Stars).

Ryding led Costa Mesa Little League with eight home runs and

played first base and catcher for the Dodgers, who won both halves of

the season with a 22-2 mark to claim the national league crown.

The 5-foot-3, 150-pound Ryding’s three-run home run in the first

inning of Game 3 of the Mayor’s Cup, the annual best-of-three series

between Costa Mesa American and Costa Mesa National Little League,

sparked a comeback from an early 2-0 deficit. The National went on to

win the game, 9-5, and the series.

* Mitch Sands (Newport Beach American Red Sox, Newport Beach

American All-Stars).

The smooth fielding shortstop and potent pitcher also gave fits to

opposing teams trying to get him out at the plate.

Sands came on “strong after a sluggish start at the plate,” said

Tim Scott, his manager during both the regular season and All-Stars.

He hit .550 with five home runs and helped lead the Red Sox to the

American League championship.

“Mitch was the team leader if ever there was one,” Scott said.

Sands delivered when it counted, tossing a complete-game shutout

as the Newport Beach American All-Stars eliminated their National

counterparts, 1-0, in the District 55 tournament. The Newport Beach

resident struck out 10, allowing two hits and walking two. He also

scored the deciding run -- on a sacrifice fly by Timmy Winning in the

fourth inning.

* Nick Freeman (Newport Beach American Mariners, Newport Beach

American All-Stars).

The shortstop and pitcher helped lead the Mariners to the Majors

division crown with a complete-game shutout over the Angels in the

championship matchup against the Angels. Freeman struck out four and

allowed only two hits as the Mariners won four straight postseason

games to claim the title, his highlight of the season.

He was also a workhorse during All-Stars, throwing a complete game

in an 11-5 Newport victory to eliminate South Irvine from the

District 55 tournament. Newport American went 2-2 in district play.

* Michael Helfrich (Newport Harbor Baseball Association Bronco

Cubs, NHBA Bronco A All-Stars).

The starting third baseman and leadoff hitter for the NHBA Bronco

A All-Stars led the team in batting average and in hits through 19 of

the team’s 25 postseason games. The Bronco A team advanced the

furthest of any NHBA team in league history, reaching the South

Region tournament, where it went 1-2. Newport advanced out of the

district and sectional tournaments.

In a span of five district games, Helfrich, who also pitched for

Newport, was tied for the team lead in hits with nine.

Rich Hogan, Helfrich’s regular season and All-Stars manager,

admired the 12-year-old’s staunch defense and willingness to be

called on to pitch.

“He doesn’t make errors and he can pitch without many warmups,”

Hogan said.

* Michael Molina (Costa Mesa American Mariners, Costa Mesa

American All-Stars).

The shortstop and pitcher was also an offensive force for both the

Mariners -- the Costa Mesa American League champions -- and the

American All-Stars.

In the District 62 Tournament of Champions opener, Molina, who

bats left-handed, pitched the final four innings, allowing only one

hit and was part of a double play while playing shortstop earlier in

the game. He added two hits and scored a run.

Molina, who led the Mariners in batting average, scored twice and

added a single in Costa Mesa American’s come-from-behind 9-7 victory

in Game 2 of the Mayor’s Cup against Costa Mesa National. Molina

reached on a fielder’s choice and scored one of his runs in a six-run

inning that erased a 7-2 deficit.

“His head is always in the game,” said Phil Bagby, Molina’s

manager in the both the regular and All-Star seasons. “He is smart at

running the bases and is just as happy with a single as he is with a

home run. He’s a real team player who is easy to coach.”

* Danny Moskovits (NHBA Bronco Red Sox, NHBA Bronco A All-Stars).

The 12-year-old stalwart on the mound, Moskovits produced some

sterling performances this postseason.

He threw three, seven-inning complete games, one each in the

district, section and regional tournaments. Moskovits also threw four

shutout innings as Newport’s starter in a 2-0 victory over Los

Alamitos, clinching a berth in the South Region tournament.

Moskovits also produced at the plate, hitting five postseason home

runs. Through 19 of Newport’s 25 All-Star games, Moskovits, who also

played shortstop, was second on the team in batting average, hits and

on-base percentage.

“Danny was our best pitcher and had the most power,” Hogan said.

“Danny does everything well,” said Mark Gordon, Bronco Division

Director. “He is probably the most well-rounded player in the Bronco

division. If you could pick one guy to start your team it would be

Danny.”

* Adrian Rodriguez (NHBA Bronco Reds, NHBA Bronco A All-Stars).

Regularly mentioned as one of the top pitchers in the league, this

versatile player also saw time at shortstop and occasionally in the

outfield.

The cleanup hitter for the Bronco A All-Star team, Rodriguez’s

power and ability to make contact made his a difficult out for the

opposition.

Rodriguez went 4 for 4 with a double and two runs scored in

Newport’s 2-0, eight-inning victory over Los Alamitos, securing a

spot in the South Region tournament.

“He is quiet, unassuming and has the most natural talent on the

team,” Hogan said.

“Adrian hit the snot out of the ball all season,” Gordon said.

* Nick Svendsen (NHBA Bronco Dodgers, NHBA Bronco A All-Stars).

The Dodgers’ main pitcher before he suffered arm trouble

three-quarters through the regular season, Svendsen maintained his

solid play at shortstop, then at first base. The Dodgers defeated the

Giants to win the Bronco Division championship. Svendsen -- playing

at first -- made a diving catch of a line drive and doubled off a

runner at second in the bottom of the seventh inning of the

championship game with the Dodgers leading, 4-3. A strikeout one

batter later and the Dodgers were champions.

Svendsen was one of the most difficult outs for any pitcher, often

leading the way for his teammates, Hogan said.

“Nick always puts the ball in play,” Hogan said. “He was our most

vocal leader.”

The 5-3, 118-pound Svendsen was tied for third on the NHBA

All-Stars in hits through 19 of Newport’s 25 postseason games and was

fourth on the team in on-base percentage.