Baseball: Mayor’s Cup reaches final game

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - As the late, great Elvis Presley said time and time

again, “It’s now or never ...”

A perfect theme for today’s third and final game between the Costa

Mesa National Little League and the Costa Mesa American Little League in

today’s 11 a.m. battle for the 2001 Mayor’s Cup at Costa Mesa High.

The CMALL holds a 3-1 lead in the series, but it’s the current series

which has both teams’ full attention.

The Nationals forced a first-ever Game 3 following Thursday’s 9-2 win

over the Americans.

Prior to that game, Manager Bill Redding emphasized a “relax and have

fun” approach and it worked to the tune of nine runs on 14 hits,

including two two-run home runs by Vinnie Valdez and P.J. Errington.

On the horizon for CMNLL, however, is Adrian Armenta. In the opener

the CMALL right-hander tossed a masterful seven-inning, seven-hitter,

allowing only one run to the run-happy Nationals.

“We’re going to have to be patient going up against Adrian again,”

Redding said. “Just relax and play little ball, like we did (Thursday).

Leading the Americans’ attack has been cleanup hitter Cody Waldron,

who, after a tough District 62 Tournament, has come alive in the Mayor’s

Cup, going 5 for 7 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBIs.

“We’re going to have to pick up our offense, but it’s still going to

come down to pitching and defense,” CMALL Manager Ted Spoulos said.

“(Thursday, we were not as strong in those departments as we were on

Wednesday.”

The Nationals’ offense has been spearheaded by Valdez, Errington,

Caleb Burgess and Evan Van Geem. Van Geem is four for 4 for 7, while

Burgess has reached with base hits four straight times.