CMNLL Minor A: Mets reel in Marlins, 13-10

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The Costa Mesa National Little League Marlins had two

explosive offensive innings, but that turned out to be less than enough

to hold off the Fountain Valley Mets.

Two six-run leads for the Marlins came and went and when the smoke

cleared, it was the Mets who pulled out the 13-10 Minor A Division win in

the second round of the single-elimination District 62 Tournament of

Champions Saturday at Costa Mesa High.

“We came out hot, but we couldn’t keep it going,” Marlins’ Manager

John Gillmore said. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. But I’m proud of

my team. They were one of only eight teams still playing in all of

District 62, so that’s something to be proud of.”

After the top of the first inning, it appeared the Marlins were on

their way to an easy victory, ripping out six runs.

Greg Stanley and Nick DePietro each had two-run singles, while Mike

Gillmore and Blake Rowerdink each added key RBI hits.

But the Mets refused to close up shop early and jumped right back into

the fray with four runs of their own in the first inning. Mike Sandberg’s

two-run single highlighted the four-run frame.

After the hour-long first inning, both teams continued their offensive

display in the second.

With two outs and nobody on base, the Marlins put together four hits

and a walk to score four more runs. Cory Ames, Johnny Person, Juan Moreno

and Stanley each scored to give the Marlins a 10-4 lead.

But back came the Mets, once again. Jerry Lewis, Mike Kimura and Chris

Kane each reached base and scored on hits by Chris Martinez, Neil Mira

and Trevor Calbow, trimming the Marlins’ lead in half.

Sandberg came in to pitch for the Mets and used an array of off-speed

pitches to shut down the powerful Marlins’ offense. He allowed four hits

in the final four innings, but did not walk anyone and allowed no runs.

“We practiced for change-up pitching as well as fastball pitching, but

it’s hard to make the adjustment during a ballgame,” Coach Gillmore said.

From there, the Mets continued to peck away at the Marlins’ lead,

scoring a run in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game.

Daniel Castle walked to lead off the third, advanced to second on a

passed ball, went to third on a grounder by Mo Alasker and scored on a

fielder’s choice by Chris Van Vuuren.

The two-run fourth inning came courtesy of a double steal by the Mets

and two costly throwing errors by the Marlins, allowing both runners to

score.

While the Mets found home plate in the middle innings, the Marlins

were stranding runners left and right. In the third, Rowerdink and Kyle

Lux were in scoring position with two outs, but the big hit could not be

delivered.

The same situation occurred in the fourth. With two outs, Person and

Juan Moreno singled. After an error moved the runners up to second and

third, Sandberg managed to strike out the Marlins’ cleanup hitter to end

the threat.

In the fifth inning, the Mets finally grabbed hold of the lead and

refused to let it go. Van Vuuren’s two-run double down the left-field

line broke the 10-10 tie. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Lewis

walked to bring in an insurance run.

The Marlins’ last threat came in the sixth inning when Rowerdink

singled up the middle with one out, but was left on second base after

back-to-back groundouts.

Strong defense was turned at third base by Lux and Evan Kipnis, who

each snagged hard line drives for outs.

Person had three hits and two runs for the Marlins, while Ames,

Stanley and Rowerdink added two hits apiece. Stanley, Moreno and Ames

each scored two runs.

“Our guys battled out there, but we simply ran out of gas,” John

Gillmore said. “It was a heck of a run and we gave it everything we

could.”

For the Mets, Calbow, Castle, Kimura and Chris Kane each scored twice,

while Van Vuuren had three RBIs.

The Marlins held the Mets to only eight hits, but the Mets took

advantage of eight walks and two hit batsmen en route to their comeback

victory.

On the flip side, the Marlins banged out 14 hits, but the Mets’

pitching combination of Sandberg and Kyle Ball only walked one batter,

while striking out five to limit the damage.