Reds put wraps on unbeaten first half

The Reds put the finishing touch on an unbeaten run through the

first half of Majors Division play Saturday by scoring a 16-2 victory

over the Mariners in play at Ocean View Little League.

Hank Conger smacked two home runs to run his first half total to a

league-best nine.

James Kang also roped three hits to further the Reds’ cause offensively.

Conger also had three hits and pitched a complete game victory in a 4-0

blanking of the Astros. Dylan Nicholson also had three hits, including a

triple, for the Reds.

In other games:

Astros 7, Angels 0

The Astros broke open a scoreless ballgame with a five run fifth inning.

Trey Valbuena pitched a complete game, striking out 16 while giving up

just one hit in the shutout victory. Eric Jaso’s lead-off double got the

Astros rolling in the fifth inning, and David Jacobs’ two-out, RBI single

broke the tie. Dallas Walters, Ryan Shillitto, and Valbuena all followed

with RBI hits, and Jesse Potter had a hit and scored in the sixth inning.

Andrew Zar had the lone hit for the Angels, and starting pitcher Justin

Chambers struck out 10 in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2

The Cardinals edged the Dodgers behind the pitching of Brett Sterbens,

Cole Shandrick, and closer Chris Palmer, who struck out eight and allowed

just one hit in three innings pitched; Stephen Donahue and Greg Gonzalez

also pitched a strong game for the Dodgers.

Dodgers 9, Mariners 7

Alex Van Arsdale tripled and Nick Orendorff doubled among two hits for

the Mariners.

Cardinals 6, Angels 1

Chris Rathkey had an RBI single, Jeff Mollica doubled, Nick Mendoza and

Brett Sterbens both had key hits, and Sterbens, Michael Wegner, and Chris

Palmer combined on the mound to limit the Angels to one run; Troy Davis

had an RBI, Thomas Burns doubled, and Scott Melchert singled and scored

for the Angels.