CMNLL Majors: A fishy finals

Tony Altobelli

HUNTINGTION BEACH - The Costa Mesa National Little League Major

Division Marlins have already done more than any Costa Mesa little league

team by reaching the District 62 Tournament of Champions title game

tonight at 5 p.m. at Wardlow Park.

Now, they want more. A district title, perhaps.

The Marlins, fresh off Monday’s 4-2 win over the Fountain Valley Devil

Rays in the Area 2 final, will take on Area 1 champion Fountain Valley

Marlins.

With a stellar combination of hitting and pitching, the CM Marlins

have outscored opponents in the T of C, 35-4, including two

mercy-decision victories.

“We’re just peaking at the right time,” Marlins Manager Paul Errington

said. “The younger guys are stepping up and the big boppers are getting

the job done.”

But perhaps even more impressive than the 35 runs scored is the

microscopic four runs allowed, thanks to the combination of Vinnie

Valdez, P.J. Errington and Anthony Secrest.

In the win over the Devil Rays, Valdez pitched six strong innings and

allowed only two runs with 12 strikeouts.

The win drained Valdez’s six-inning pitching eligibility so it will be

up to P.J. Errington to carry a bulk of the load. He threw the final two

innings in the Area 2 title game.

“He’s got four innings in him, so we’ll how he fares,” Coach Errington

said. “The key to his success is his off-speed stuff. That sets up his

fastball. If he struggles, Anthony Secrest, Adam Seagondollar or Brice

Stillman will try to pick him up.”

Stillman, Valdez and P.J. Errington will also be looked upon to

deliver the key hits which have given the Marlins such a successful

offense.

“They’ve been our big hitters all season long,” Coach Errington said.

“Also, guys like Secrest, Garrick Williams and Matt Pisarski have really

stepped up at the plate, too, among others.”

The last Newport-Mesa little league team to win a Tournament of

Champions crown was the Newport Beach Little League Dodgers back in 1993,

led by current college standouts Ty Harper (Pepperdine) and Eric Wiethorn

(Louisiana State).

Coach Errington also believes his “10th player” has made a major

contribution as well. “Our fans really keep us going,” he said. “We’re

all just one big happy family and they’ve been supporting us since the

very beginning.”

Perhaps utter silliness has been an active ingredient in the Marlins’

success. Just ask assistant coach Rob Stillman.

Stillman first promised the Marlins a platinum-blond dye job and

haircut if they won their league championship. Mission accomplished.

Should the CM Marlins pull out the District 62 title, he promised he

would “do a jig on the mound.”

After Monday’s win, Stillman said, “They wanted me to get a tattoo on

my arm with a marlin eating a diamondback, but I won’t let it get that

far. I think they want to win this thing just to make me make a fool out

of myself.”