Minor Cubs’ season washed away

Rick Devereux

Slightly wet conditions may have dampened the field but it did not

dampen the spirit of Wayne Redfearn, manager of the Newport Beach

National Little League Minor division Cubs.

Even though the Cubs’ season ended Saturday with a 12-2 loss to

the Lake Forest American Angels in the District 55 Tournament of

Champions at Heroes Park, Redfearn was pleased with his team’s

effort.

“I’m incredibly proud of how we played,” he said. “We battled hard

until the last pitch.”

The Cubs (15-6-2) scored twice in the top of the second inning

against the Angels (17-2-1), but the home team’s consistent hitting

and aggressive baserunning was too much.

Pitcher Drew Olson drew a one-out walk in the second and reached

second on a fielding error on Daniel Anastos’ hit up the middle. Both

players advanced on a wild pitch and Olson was safe at home on Eric

Ctvrtlik’s bouncer up the third-base line. Anastos later scored on a

wild pitch.

But that only cut the deficit to 4-2 because the Angels sent nine

batters to the plate in the first inning. The Angels sent eight men

to the plate in the second, and again scored four runs.

“[The Angels are] the most dominating team I’ve seen play Minor

ball in my years in Little League,” said Redfearn, now in his fourth

year coaching Little League. “They are well-coached, are exceptional

hitters and execute well on defense. They should win this

tournament.”

Lake Forest defeated Laguna Niguel’s No. 2 team, 13-4, in its

first Tournament of Champions game Tuesday.

The Angels scored via a wild pitch, a single up the middle, a

triple to center and a single to left field in the first inning.

In the second, it was a wild pitch, two singles to right and a

single up the middle.

They scored three times in third on a triple and two doubles,

before Sam Clark’s one-out, bases-loaded single to left plated Zach

Clark to end the game due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“I told the players they need to make adjustments because of the

weather,” Angels Manager Kent Miyashiro said. “We spend a lot of time

on the mental game. These guys have matured throughout the season and

they knew what to do in every situation.”

Angel players consistently took the extra base as throws from the

outfield went to home plate, and runners were quick to advance when a

pitch got past the catcher.

“I think we’re really solid in the fundamentals,” Miyashiro said.

“We have good hitting, good fielding and good pitching.”

Dillon Miyashiro -- Kent’s son -- pitched one perfect inning and

Nick Paglialonga allowed just two hits over three innings for the

Angels. The duo combined for two walks, whereas the Cubs allowed four

bases on balls.

Redfearn said the wet conditions affected the Cubs.

“It was tough out there, especially for our pitching,” he said.

“Our pitcher usually has great control, but I think the ball slipped

away from him a little bit.”

The defense backed up the pitcher nicely, especially diving grabs

in the second inning by left fielder James Christian and in the third

inning by Ctvrtlik in center field.

“There are no superstars on this team, just a solid group of young

men,” Redfearn said. “We just got beat by a better team. You can’t be

disappointed in how we played or our effort.”