Angels claim Battle of Costa Mesa

Barry Faulkner

In a season of dominance, the Costa Mesa American Little League

Majors division Angels showed they could do more with less Monday

night.

Though they had fewer hits (three) and more errors (two) than the

rival Costa Mesa National Dodgers (four and one, respectively), it

was the Angels who came away with a 4-0 baseball victory in the

semifinals of the District 62 Tournament of champions at Wardlow

Park.

The win propels the Angels (22-1) into Wednesday’s 5 p.m.

championship game, also at Wardlow Park. The Angels, who have now

defeated the Dodgers (15-4) three times in four meetings this season,

will meet Ocean View, which defeated Huntington Valley in the other

semifinal Monday at Mile Square Park.

The Angels’ ability to maximize included timely hitting, strong

pitching and, after a tenuous start, solid defense.

The latter two have carried Manager Jeff Hirsch’s squad to

numerous lopsided victories all season, including two previous

Tournament of Champions wins in which the Angels had outscored

opponents, 15-1.

But the first element in that mix, timely hitting, has largely

been a moot point. It is, after all, difficult to identify an

offensive turning point when the lineup routinely turns over and over

again.

The Angels’ opportunism began in the bottom of the first, when

Garrett Hirsch reached with one out by being hit by a pitch.

Derek Amendola followed with a chopper over third that found its

way through the left fielder’s legs for an additional two bases and a

1-0 Angels lead.

Amendola then scored on a passed ball, which proved to be more

than enough for starting pitcher P.J. Maloney.

Maloney, who tossed a complete-game four-hitter in a 5-1

tournament-opening win, again needed no relief help, this time

posting the shutout. He struck out 10, walked just one, and showed

resolve atypical of most 12-year-olds by working out of jams in the

first, fourth and fifth.

“P.J. is so mentally strong, he doesn’t let a lot affect him out

there,” Jeff Hirsch said. “He has matured a lot over the last two

seasons.”

Back-to-back errors fueled the Dodgers’ threat in the first, while

the Costa Mesa National squad, which is responsible for the Angels’

only loss this season, had two singles in both the fourth and fifth.

But by the time the Dodgers broke up Maloney’s no-hit bid in the

fourth, the Angels had already taken a 4-0 cushion.

Jake Comer sparked the Angels’ third-inning rally, working a

leadoff walk. Maloney followed with a bounder to third that was

fielded with a backhand stab. But Comer beat the throw to second for

the attempted force.

After Dodger shortstop Kannon Stone hauled down an infield pop, a

passed ball moved the runners to second and third.

After a strikeout, one of 11 by A.J. Roth, who went the distance

for the Dodgers, cleanup hitter Brian Waldron lined a two-run single

into center field to finalize the scoring.

The Dodgers, however, appeared determined to at least foil the

shutout.

Roth, who had driven in 13 runs his previous three games,

including a grand slam in Saturday’s 4-3 semifinal win over

Huntington Valley, opened the third with a single to center.

A pop-up and fielder’s choice force at second were followed by a

single to right by Jacob Knapp.

But Maloney, who had at least one strikeout in every inning and,

at one point fanned five straight batters, including the side in the

second, whiffed the next batter to leave the two Dodger runners

stranded.

Maloney left the bases loaded in the fifth, in perhaps his best

display of damage control.

After a one-out walk, Matt Carlyle and Stone singled for the

Dodgers to bring the potential tying run to the plate. But Maloney

got the second out via the strikeout and ended the inning by handling

a soft comebacker.

Maloney then retired the side in order in the sixth to end the

Dodgers’ 10-game winning streak.

“Heart and guts,” Jeff Hirsch said in describing Maloney’s

consistent ability to excel in crucial situations.

Waldron, playing shortstop, third baseman Tyler Sheffner, Nolan

Manson in right field, and catcher Garrett Hirsch all sparkled

defensively for the winners.

Matt McEachern, J.T. McLuckey, Bryan Williams, Brendon Bonghandy

and Matthew LeValley also chipped in for the Angels, who are the

first Costa Mesa Amercian Majors team in recent memory to advance

this far in the District that includes typically strong leagues such

as Fountain Valley, Ocean View, Huntington Valley, Robinwood, Seaview

and Westminster.

Only two of the runs Roth allowed were earned.

Derek Andrews, playing second base for the Dodgers, turned a

double play by fielding a pop and throwing to first to double off a

straying runner to end the Costa Mesa American second.

Conner Gilligan, Brody Henscheid, Colin Kincaid, Alex Krohnfeldt,

Jake Spielberger and Jordan Young also helped the Dodgers’ run to the

semifinals, a roll unexpected by Manager Kirk Stone.

“I think this team overachieved,” he said.