Little League Baseball: Cubs wake up with a little “Zip”

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH - Instead of living up to his nickname, Harold

“Zippy” Levy used his smarts to pull off two stolen bases and scored

twice on wild throws to lead the Cubs past the Mets, 7-1, in a Bronco

division game of the Newport Harbor Baseball Association at Mariners Park

Saturday.

Zippy, who didn’t know how he received his nickname, also closed the

final inning and retired the side with three straight outs. On offense,

he finished with two hits, including a double and an RBI.

“He zipped into the world,” said Gene Levy of his son’s birth and

subsequent nickname.

Said Zippy, “I have no speed. My first step is quick. It’s all about

the jump.”

The Cubs (2-0), who were down by one after 31/2 innings, tied the game

when Zippy scored on an errant throw to third base. Austin Carden used

some speed to give the Cubs the lead after a passed ball.

Peter Hapke, Drew Harris and Marco Marcigliano finished with one RBI

each for the Cubs.

The Mets (1-1) went up, 1-0, in the first inning when John Razzano’s

single brought in Michael Menninger, who also got on base with a single.

Razzano then used his arm to hold the Cubs scoreless through the three

innings that he pitched. In the Mets’ first two games of the season, he’s

pitched for five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, four in each

game.

“He did a great job,” Mets’ Manager Jeff Davis said.

Jonathan Herdman and Brennan Davis had one hit each, while Charlie

Odeski recorded two stolen bases and Menninger and Brennan Davis stole

one base each for the Mets.

The Cubs kept the Mets scoreless through the final six innings with

the pitching of left-hander Drew Harris, and right-handers Austin Carden,

Hapke and Zippy.

Hapke threw for two innings and fanned five of the seven batters he

faced. Carden fanned fouir of seven batters.

Manager Rich Hogan’s Cubs were hoping the game would end quickly as

Hapke and Carden also needed to play in an National Junior Basketball

All-Stars game against Capistrano Valley at Ensign Intermediate School.

The Dodgers and Braves matchup was postponed because too many of the

players were needed for the NJB game.