Newport hangs on

Tony Altobelli

LAGUNA NIGUEL - After being shutout on Sunday, early runs were the

order of the day for the Newport Beach Little League “B” All-Star team.

That order was delivered by the 9- and 10-year-olds Monday in a 7-5 win

over South Mission Viejo in the District 55 All-Star Tournament at Wagon

Wheel Park.

Newport jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings and hung on for dear

life for the win.

“We dug down and hung in there,” Manager Brian Freeman said. “I was proud

of the guys for playing all six innings and seeing it all the way

through.”

Danny Moskovits went the distance for Newport, earning the win, while at

the same time, keeping the other pitchers rested for Thursday’s contest.

He used two five-pitch innings to withstand a late rally for the win.

“We were going to sink or swim with Danny today,” Freeman said. “I was

told he was a tough competitor and he proved that to me today.”

Normally called “the hot corner,” third base was extra-crispy for

Newport. Four outs, were recorded at third, including the first half of a

game-ending double play with the tying runs on base for South Mission

Viejo.

In fact, third baseman Aaron Northcroft had three putouts and and assist

in the last two innings to protect the lead.

Newport took advantage of an extra first-inning out and scored three

times. Nick Freeman and an RBI single, followed by a two-RBI single by

Northcroft.

“After our first two guys got out, we could have thought, ‘Uh-oh, here we

go again,’ but we kept battling and got three across early,” the elder

Freeman said. “Those early runs really got us going.”

Moskovits and Scott Colton each had key RBIs to key Newport’s four-run

third inning, making it 7-0.

Freeman and Colton each had two hits to jump-start Newport’s offense.

Freeman, while playing catcher, also threw out two runners at third base.

Newport kept South Mission Viejo off the scoreboard early thanks in part

to center fielder Jeff Carlson, who made an inning-ending snag of a line

drive with two runners on base.

With one out, South Mission Viejo cut the lead to 7-5 and had runners on

first and second. The next batter ripped a shot to Northcroft at third.

He calmly stepped on the bag and fired a bullet to second for a double

play, ending the game.

Newport plays again Thursday at 5 p.m. at the same site.

For South Mission Viejo, Zack Amster was 4 for 4 with a run, while

Houston had two hits and two RBIs.