Little League: Winning isn’t everything

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH - Wins and losses don’t really matter in the Newport

Harbor Baseball Association Pinto division. Need proof. The evidence can

be found in a game between the Dodgers and the Cardinals played at Ensign

Intermediate School Saturday. Coaches from each team agreed the Dodgers

won, but the score wasn’t a concern.

The Pinto division consists of seven-year-olds as encouragement and

teaching can go a long way in their futures.

“We try to refrain from keeping score,” Dodgers’ manager Jim Stowell

said. “I rotate my players every inning so our kids play different

positions. It’s good, they all get to play shortstop.”

The Dodgers’ pitchers turned in some great performances, Stowell said.

Angelo Angelides was the only Dodger who threw for two innings. Matthew

Carlyle started and pitched for one inning, while Tobin Frome struck out

three in the scoreless inning he pitched.

On offense, Frome finished with a hit and scored two runs. Carlyle

also had a hit.

The Cardinals received some quality play from Jed Gentry and Sean

Richards, who both had two hits each. Charles Massingill and Matthew

Bancroft caught difficult fly balls.

Nelson Simons pitched a no-hitter through two innings and was backed

up by superb defense, Cardinals assistant coach Steve Bancroft said.

“(Simons) pitched phenomenally,” said Steve Bancroft, who also doesn’t

care about the final score. “In the Pinto division, it’s really important

for us that they try when they’re up to bat, that they take a swing at

the ball.”