Ocean View’s home run derby subdues Seaview, 6-1

Mike Sciacca

The long ball went a long way Monday night for the Ocean View Mets,

who defeated the Seaview Cardinals, 6-1, in a Little League Tournament of

Champions Majors division opener played at Costa Mesa American Little

League.

The Mets, the No. 1 team out of Ocean View competing in the

tournament, used three home runs and some excellent pitching to defeat

the Cardinals.

“We’re trying to keep up with the Ocean View tradition,” said Mets

Coach Randy Melchert, who is attempting to lead the league to a fourth

consecutive district title. “I thought the game was pretty much even.

Both teams played great defense and had just about the same amount of

hits and base runners. They (Seaview) hit some rockets in that first

inning, but the difference in the game was our home runs.”

Seaview, however, looked as though it would gain the upper hand early,

by loading the bases with one out in the first inning on hits by Aaron

Amaral, Carl Eberts and Austin Morgan. It was then that the Mets’ Troy

Davis settled down to record a strikeout and a ground out to get out of

the inning unscathed.

Davis went the distance to get the win, and gave up seven hits and two

walks.

The Mets (18-3) took advantage of their first at-bat to grab a lead

they wouldn’t relinquish, as Jon Grothe hit a leadoff home run. His blast

easily cleared the left field fence.

The Mets struck again in the third inning.

Matt Ayster delivered a leadoff single and Scott Melchert followed by

smashing a line drive, two-run home run, also to left field. Michael

Springer pushed across the third run of the inning when his single scored

Davis, who also singled, for a 4-0 advantage.

The Mets capped their scoring in the fifth inning when Melchert

singled, and Michael Cherf hit a two-run home run.

The Cardinals, the No. 2 entry out of Seaview, got their only run on

Chris Poulson’s fifth-inning home run.

Amaral led Seaview with two hits.

Morgan and Eberts shared pitching duties for the Cardinals.

Melchert topped the Mets with three hits and Davis furthered his own

cause with two hits and right fielder Jeff Hennes came up with an

outstanding catch in the third inning to prevent Seaview from scoring.

The victory puts Ocean View into Saturday’s second round, where

they’ll face the winner of the Costa Mesa American No. 1/Robinwood No. 2

game.

Saturday’s Majors division action will again take place at both

Huntington Valley (Area 2) and Costa Mesa American (Area 1) Little

Leagues. Semifinal games at both venues will begin at 9 a.m. and noon.

In Minor A Division tournament play:

Seaview routs Westminster, 9-0

The Seaview Expos opened their bid for a District 62 championship in

fine fashion Monday as they routed the Westminster Yankees, 9-0, in

Little League Tournament of Champions Minor A division play at Costa Mesa

American Little League.

The Expos, the No. 2 team from Seaview, combined outstanding defense

with some hot hitting to surprise the Yankees, who won the Minor A title

at Westminster.

Donald Sneed and Kyle Boswell combined on the mound to strike out nine

and give up just three hits.

A key defensive play by Expos second baseman Brandon Visnoski robbed

Yankee Michael Gutierrez of a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Early in the game, Josh Amaral singled twice and Visnoski doubled and

singled.

Boswell, Chris Czerniachowski, Wesley Graves and Dylan Evans also had

key hits to lead Seaview, who will play Saturday at 9 a.m.

Minor A division semifinals (both Area 1 and 2) will be played

Saturday at 9 a.m. and noon, with Huntington Valley and Costa Mesa

American serving as host sites.

Other scores:

Majors

CM National 1 18, CM American No. 2 0

Minor B

Huntington Valley No. 1 5, Fountain Valley No. 2 1