Phillies put loss in rear view mirror

FOUNTAIN VALLEY ? Nothing shifts young boys’ thoughts from negative to positive faster than video games and food.

So after a 13-2 loss to the White Sox of Ocean View Wednesday at Mile Square Park that ousted the Costa Mesa National Little League Majors Phillies from the District 62 Tournament of Champions, it was not a surprise when the hands shot up and voices grew loud in the post-game meeting.

The baseball season may have been over, but it was time to party with friends. Quickly the votes came in on where to go. The criteria for a successful after-party was already known.

Jake Stone said it was the snowmobile video game and size of Dave & Busters that swayed his vote.

“It’s bigger and it has more games that are in style,” Cody Stoddard said. “You don’t have to carry around tokens or tickets. You can use a card.”

Just as fast as the decision was made, the dissenters were sniffed out. All fingers pointed at Jake Knapp.

“They have laser tag,” Knapp said, defending his vote for a different location. “I’m good at hiding.”

There was a time when Knapp could not hide and his teammates found him just as quickly. Knapp scored the winning run to send the Phillies to the TOC.

“When Aaron [Wood] had the winning hit, we dog piled Jake Knapp,” Jake Stone said. “We all went crazy.”

Carter Norris crossed the plate before Knapp scored the winning run.

“We beat the team that was favored over us to get to TOC,” Norris said. “I got to score the tying run. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I did it. Cool. Now we might win.’”

There are other reasons the Phillies will have fun at its post-game destination.

“We all like to have a good time,” said Wood, who has participated in the TOC three consecutive years. “We’re all funny.”

“Everyone can make everyone laugh,” Norris said.

For Dave Cornelius, the best part of the year was participating in the TOC.

“It was my second time going in a row,” said Cornelius, who was said to be able to make an amusing monkey face to entertain teammates.

There were other moments that kept the Phillies boisterous despite the loss.

“I won the home run derby Saturday,” said Hans Anderle, who hit five home runs in the competition.

To go with the power this season, the Phillies had speed on the bases when Jared Payzant was aboard.

“You have to leave at the right time,” Payzant said about the key to base thievery.

There were also positive moments during the game. With the Phillies down, 7-0, Trevor Borkowski came in and struckout six of the next 10 batters he faced.

Trailing by seven in the bottom of the third, the Phillies mounted a comeback. With one out, Knapp ripped a double to left field. Stone followed by driving him in with a triple down the third-base line. Stone scored on a wild pitch and Steven Hildebrand hit a ground-rule double, but the rally halted there.

The top of the White Sox order provided the majority of the team’s offensive punch. The top four batters were eight for 12 with three home runs and six runs scored.dpt.15-cmnll-3-CPhotoInfoPP1S0BUM20060615j0vrjfncCHRISTOPHER WAGNER / DAILY PILOT(LA)Jake Knapp of the Costa Mesa National Majors Phillies celebrates after scoring a run against the Ocean View White Sox on Wednesday at Mile Square Park.dpt.15-cmnll-2-BPhotoInfoPP1S0EM020060615j0vrl6ncCHRISTOPHER WAGNER / DAILY PILOT(LA)Dave Cornelius of the Costa Mesa National Majors Phillies makes it to second base easily as the throw is too high for Jake Arledge.dpt.15-cmnll-1-BPhotoInfoPP1S0EPP20060615j0vrlrncCHRISTOPHER WAGNER / DAILY PILOT(LA)Aaron Wood of the Costa Mesa Phillies looks to the umpire for the call against the White Sox.