NHBA Pony 14: Newport falls to La Mirada

Tony Altobelli

PLACENTIA - It was a good, old-fashioned trip to the woodshed for

the Newport Harbor Baseball Association Pony 14 All-Star team in the

first round of the district playoffs Friday night, losing, 9-0, to La

Mirada.

“What can I say except we got our butts kicked,” Manager Taras Young

said. “We came out flat and La Mirada took advantage of it. No matter how

you look at it, we lost bad.”

Newport fell into an 8-0 hole after three innings, which was more than

enough runs for the La Mirada pitching duo of Alex Schickling and Brice

Stowell, who combined to strike out 14 Newport hitters, while allowing

only four hits.

“We came out and fell behind early and it was pretty much over from

there,” Young said.

Pat Keehan was Newport’s lone offensive star, going 2 for 3, including

a double. Kenny Knight and Matt Erickson each had single hits for the

locals.

Another positive for Newport came from relief pitcher Kurt Yacko, who

pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, including retiring La Mirada in order in

the fifth inning.

La Mirada was led offensively by Schickling, who scored twice and

drove in two runs. Darren Hiehle went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, while Manny

Mendoza and David Nichols each added two hits.

After La Mirada’s eight-run outburst after three innings, Yacko and

Erickson managed to keep the sluggers in check to the tune of one run on

two hits.

Newport will play again Sunday at 11 a.m. in the elimination bracket.