Huntington Valley reigns

Mike Sciacca

The Huntington Valley Little League left the week-long District 62

Tournament of Championship postseason party with plenty of parting

gifts.

The league departed the playing fields at Robinwood Little League,

site of three division finals played Wednesday, with what eight local

Little Leagues had vied for -- a district championship.

And not one, but three.

Huntington Valley claimed the Majors Division title as its No. 1

entry, the Pirates, beat all comers en route to the title.

In the Minor A and Minor B division finals, a pair of No. 2

entries from Huntington Valley ended up No. 1 in their respective

divisions.

In the Junior League title game, host Westminster edged Fountain

Valley, 6-5.

MAJORS DIVISION

Huntington Valley No. 1, 11-Seaview No. 2, 1

With the entire lineup contributing to the victory, the Pirates

capped the tournament with their second double digit victory in

postseason play.

In their final three tournament games, the Pirates outscored their

opponents, 29-4.

A pair of home runs by Nick Mazzone in the first two innings, and

a deep homer by Alex Talbert, sent the Pirates on their way.

Mazzone hit an in-the-park homer in the first inning, which scored

two runs, and then blasted a homer to left-center field in the second

inning.

Talbert followed Mazzone in the second with a shot over the fence

in left-centerfield.

Josh Huffstettler also had multiple hits for the Pirates with a

double and single.

Richard Varella started on the mound for Huntington Valley and was

replaced by Mazzone, who got the win.

“The kids really played with a lot of heart and determination,”

Huntington Valley Manager Nick Mazzone said.

The Pirates’ postseason road began with a close call against

Fountain Valley No. 2, 6-5, followed by a 13-2 win over Seaview No.

1, which preceded a 5-1 semifinal win over Robinwood No. 2.

Seaview No. 2’s impressive run to the division championship game

included victories over three No. 1 entries: the Yankees defeated

Robinwood (5-2), Fountain Valley (10-1) and lastly, Westminster (2-0)

in the semifinal round.

MINOR A DIVISION

Huntington Valley No. 2, 11-Fountain Valley No. 2, 2

In what Manager Jim Kiser called a “complete team victory,”

Huntington Valley’s Dodgers rolled past the Fountain Valley Angels.

Jake Kiser pitched a complete-game victory. He struck out 11 and

walked just one.

Key Dodger hits came from Lance Siegel and Ricky Hayes, each with

three hits. Anthony Velazquez had two singles, and Gavin

Perdomotripled.

“It was just a complete effort,” Jim Kiser said. “Our pitching

improved during the tournament, and players who had been in a slump

really began to hit the ball. The kids just did a great job.”

Huntington Valley reached its status of champion by defeating

three first-place teams: Ocean View (9-4), Westminster (7-2) and

Fountain Valley (6-4).

MINOR B DIVISION

Huntington Valley No. 2, 9-Seaview No. 1, 3

The Angels combined strong pitching with a potent offense to upend

the Mariners.

Huntington Valley had entered the district tournament with an

11-9-1 record.

Starter Tyler Dominick struck out seven, walked one, didn’t allow

a run and gave up just one hit to 14 batters faced.

Don Pierce also faced 14 batters and struck out six to go along

with two hits and two walks in a relief effort.

Huntington Valley’s offense rolled in the first inning, scoring

five runs to take a 5-0 lead.

Garret Rios had a two-run single, and Pierce hit a two-run double

to highlight the inning.

Joey Groth, Tyler Dominick and Lars Davis all singled in the

inning.

The lead grew to 7-0 in the fourth inning when Anders Davis

singled home Austin Holquin, and Davis later scored on a wild pitch.

The Angels scored their final two runs in the fifth when Bradley

Dominick and Groth each singled, with Groth scoring on Tyler

Dominick’s single.

Rios, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on Pierce’s

ground out.

Seaview cracked the scoreboard in the sixth inning.

Cole Grant scored on a fielder’s choice, Logan Montgomery scored

on a passed ball and Josh Croom, who singled, scored on Trevor

Borkowski’s single.

Huntington Valley opened the tournament with a 12-6 victory over

Fountain Valley No. 1, then upended Seaview No. 2, 7-2 and Costa Mesa

National No. 1, 8-5, in the semifinals.

Manager Joel Groth dubbed his team, “The Comeback Kids,” and

rightly so: The Angels trailed by three runs in the bottom of the

third inning in their first three tournament games.

“The boys played with a lot of heart and gave us all an incredible

season,” Joel Groth said.