Fallen Angels still proud

HUNTINGTON BEACH ? Advancing to the District 62 Tournament of Champions means a team racked up wins and highlight plays on the way.

So the Costa Mesa American Little League Angels’ 13-5 loss to Westminster’s Yankees at LeBard Park Thursday in a Minor B Division first-round game did not diminish the fun the team had throughout the season.

Angels’ third baseman Kilin Headington reflected upon the day the team defeated the White Sox as his favorite moment because he was pitching and “They were so easy to beat.”

A loss in the first round did not lessen the pride left fielder Austin Peterson felt for the three home runs he hit during the season, all of which were inside the park.

“I was just thinking to run the bases as fast as I could,” Peterson said. “It was fun.”

The most disappointing part of the Angels’ loss for center fielder Robert Gamache was that he will not be patrolling the outfield anymore.

“Most of the time people hit it through the middle of the field and I get a chance to get the ball,” Gamache said with a smile.

Johnny Blommer did not have to look far into the past to locate a personal highlight. In the game that sent the Angels to the TOC, Blommer raced off the mound to make a diving catch and just as quickly he was in his father’s arms celebrating.

“I thought I was gonna miss it,” said Blommer, whose father is the manager. “I was pitching and Austin [Peterson] was at first. Austin ran to the ball, but he was off so I dived for it.”

Blommer was not the only Angels player who made a memorable catch. Right fielder Cody Perez recalled instances that describe why he enjoys playing the outfield.

“I remember catching two fly balls when everybody was standing there and I said ‘I can’t let that ball land. I have to get it,’ ” Perez said.

Matthew Alvarez, who started playing baseball this season, had a different take on why fly balls are fun to catch.

“When you look up in the sky it’s like you’re flying,” Alvarez said.

For Kage Kistler all the best times were when he was on the mound.

“You get more control of the ball,” said Kistler who picked off three runners in the Angels’ previous game. “My favorite part of the season was the first game when I shut the team out.”

While others preferred the mound or the outfield, Andrew Holguian will take the infield any day of the week.

“You can get outs and run for the ball,” said Holguian, who played shortstop.

The Angels fell into a 7-1 hole after three innings, but battled back. Blommer led off the fourth inning with a walk and a Holguian squibber between the pitcher and catcher produced a hit.

A wild pitch advanced both runners and on Kistler’s ground ball to third Blommer broke for the plate. As the throw home arrived, however, Blommer made a U-turn back to third, leaving an Angel at every base.

After a strikeout, the inning got a little zany. A throw back to the pitcher got away and two infielders narrowly missed it as well as it rolled into the outfield. Both Blommer and Holguian scored and, as the ball got away from the center fielder, the runner on first attempted to do the same, but was thrown out.

Cody Perez later scored to make it 7-4.