Costa Mesa All-Stars heating up

J.T. Thompson struck out six and walked two in a complete game to

help lead the Costa Mesa 14-year-old Pony baseball All-Stars to an

8-4 victory over Garden Grove Tuesday in the District 2 tournament in

Cypress. With the victory, Mesa is two wins away from advancing to

the sectional tournament.

Mesa plays the loser of Wednesday’s Cypress-Laguna Niguel matchup

at 5 today on the Pony field behind the Cypress Community Center at

5700 Orange Avenue in Cypress.

Thompson scattered six hits while Costa Mesa jumped to an early

lead and received defensive support from several players.

Catcher Jake Dayton led the Mesa attack, going 4 for 4 with two

RBIs. Andy Dawson also had a big night for Mesa, going 2 for 3 with a

walk, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Thompson, Cody Spoulos, Andrew Millian, Nathan Roe and Luke

Boulger all had at least one hit with one run scored and one stolen

base to help in the victory.

Mesa has gone 1-1 in the double-elimination tournament and 3-6

thus far in All-Star play.

Thompson, Spoulos and Millian are each hitting close to .500 in

All-Star tournaments while Dawson has found his stride at the plate

in the last three games, Mesa Manager Ted Spoulos said.

Thompson, Dawson and Boulger have all pitched well.

If Mesa wins tonight, they would play at 6 p.m. Friday for a berth

into the sectional tournament.

In other Pony play:

* The Newport Harbor Baseball Association “A” team went 1-2 in the

district tournament, highlighted by a 7-5 victory over Dana Point

Saturday in Los Alamitos.

Adrian Rodriguez scored on Peter Hapke’s groundout to give Newport

a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning.

Newport lost to a powerful Los Alamitos team, 10-7, Sunday.

Newport Manager Doug Adams praised his team’s effort against Los

Alamitos, which mercied Newport, 14-0, the previous week.

“That was an emotional game, it took a lot out of our guys for

Monday’s game,” Adams said about the loss to Los Alamitos.

La Mirada eliminated Newport from the tournament with a 13-4

victory Monday.

Nick Svendsen struck out two in four innings while Garrett Gordon,

Brett Adams, Spencer Smith and Hapke all tallied hits.

* The Newport “B” All-Star team, comprised primarily of

13-year-olds, went 0-2 in the district tournament in Cypress, playing

against squads made up of mostly 14-year-olds.

Newport had two 14-year-olds, forcing it to play against older

competition.

Brock Schuler tripled for Newport’s only hit in two district

games.

Outfielders Cecil Whiteside and Carlos Guzman each made strong

catches while first baseman Tyler McGill and third baseman Cody Green

also contributed to Newport’s defense.

Jack Grace caught every inning in the district tournament.

Newport won two games in both the Dana Point and Los Alamitos

All-Star tournaments earlier this summer.

Manager Bill Gallagher complimented his team’s character.