NBLL AA: Cards leave Diamondbacks snake-bitten

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - The Cardinals picked a great time to pick up their

first win against the Diamondbacks, winning the Newport Beach Little

League AA Division championship game with an 8-2 victory Saturday at

Lincoln Elementary.

“The whole season for us has been very competitive,” Cardinals Manager

King Nelson said after the game. “But we’ve improved game after game and

I think that’s the most important thing.”

Tommy Colton was the offensive star, going 3 for 4 with three runs and

two RBIs.

“He had a fantastic game for us coming out of nowhere,” King said. “He’s

just had a fantastic season. He’s pitched real well and hit great for

us.”

After the Cards scored a run in the top of the first inning, the D-Backs

took a 2-1 lead after Brian Yasukochi and Matt Morris managed to travel

around the bases and score.

Colton’s RBI single in the third brought in Michael Bloom to tie the

score at 2-2. Colton would then score on a bases-loaded walk by Chase

Stark to give the Cards the lead for good.

Bloom pitched the first two innings before Colton came in and threw three

scoreless innings, allowing only one hit.

In fact, the D-Backs managed only two hits for the game, both by Kendall

Pick.

“It’s funny, we had a tough first game and a tough last game, but the 18

in the middle were pretty fun,” D-Backs Coach Jay Palchikoff said.

The Cards iced the game in the fifth inning when Colton, Stark, Scott

Frazier and Tennison Mitchell each came around to score.

Colton’s third run of the game came in the sixth inning. He scored off a

base hit from Frazier.