Costa Mesa National Little League: Dodgers rally in sixth for 8-7

win

COSTA MESA - The Dodgers smacked six hits with two outs in the last

inning to score four runs and defeat the Yankees, 8-7, in Costa Mesa

National Little League Minor A action.

After the Yankees added a run in the top of the sixth to take a 7-4

lead, the Dodger bats quickly woke up when Austin Vogel reached base and

scored along with Coleman Brown on Eusebio Castillo’s double. Daniel

Derieg ad Daniel Degree both singled to score Castillo to tie the game.

With darkness approaching, Joshua Erno singled past the shortstop,

scoring the winning run.

In other Minor A action:

* Dodgers 10, Astros 4 - The Dodgers continued their winning ways

defeating the Astros, 10-4. Joshua Erno and Eusebio Castillo each scored

three runs in the Dodger victory. Daniel Derieg, Coleman Brown, Luke

Roberts and Jeffrey Guillen each scored as the Dodgers took control of

the game. Also contributing on offense were Preston Schow, Daniel Degree,

Billy DeGirolamo, Austin Vogel and Chris Whiteside. Solid Dodger defense

held the Astros to just four runs.

* Diamondbacks 7, Marlins 3 - The Diamondbacks used strong pitching

from Eric Mickelson, Johnathon Jones and Cody Woods, along with catcher

James Wambaugh to defeat the Marlins, 7-3. Juan Vasquez, Zachary Baldwin,

Joshua Bowman and Kelly Plummer provided strong defense for the D-backs.

The D-backs’ hitting attack included Ian Seagondollar, Sebastian

Fainsztein and Joseph Eggers to keep the lead throughout the game.

In Major action:

* Dodgers 9, Yankees 7 - A late rally by the Dodgers powered by hits

from Brandon Grimmett (two hits in the fifth inning), a double by Bryan

Bennett, who earlier homered, and a single by Juan Guzman, and walks to

Nick Oliver, Cory Ames and Matt Telles gave the Dodgers six runs in the

fifth inning to give them a 9-7 win over the Yankees. The Yankees scored

four runs in the fourth to take the lead. Juan Guzman pitched three

perfect innings with three strikeouts for the Dodgers. Justin Long came

on in relief in the fourth and finished with five strikeouts. The Dodgers

finished the first half 8-3, in second place behind the Diamondbacks.*

Dodgers, 13, Cardinals 7 - Justin Long led the Dodger hitting attack with

three hits including two hits in a nine-run second inning, in the

Dodgers’ first game of the second half to outlast the Cardinals, 13-7.

Also contributing to the Dodgers’ offense were Brandon Grimmett (two hits

and two runs scored), Juan Guzman (single and two runs scored), Cory Ames

(double and a walk), Nick Pederson and Nick Oliver (both had singles and

each scored a run). Ian Abernathy pitched three innings, striking out

seven, while Justin Long pitched two innings striking out three. Nick

Pederson pitched the final inning fanning one.

* Marlins 10, Astros 6 - The Marlins sent 16 batters to the plate in

the first two innings, scoring eight runs, and wound up holding on for a

10-6 win over the Astros. Leadoff hitter Kevin Kiser started the Marlins’

offense with a single in the first inning and Michael Pierce began the

second with a double. Danny O’Neil also doubled in the second, which saw

the Marlins combine for three hits and two walks. Kiser, Anthony Secrest

and O’Neil each scored twice in the first two innings. The Marlins added

the deciding two runs in the bottom of the fourth, when O’Neil and Adam

Seagondollar (who also pitched in relief) singled and right fielder Evan

Kipnis drilled a line drive double into the left-center field gap to

score the Marlins’ final two runs. The Astros scored two runs in the

first inning. Austin Evett and Brandon Esping hit back-to-back doubles

and eventually scored on Taylor West’s RBI single. But Marlins’ starting

pitcher Michael Gillmore allowed only two more hits and no more runs

through the third inning. The second inning ended on a double play

started by Marlins first baseman Secrest who fielded a sharp grounder,

touched first base, then threw across the diamond to Nick DePietro who

tagged the baserunner sliding into third. Right fielder Evan Kipnis

battled the sun to flag down a long fly ball hit by Astro Mike Cedeno to

prevent runs from scoring in the third inning. The Astros scored in the

fifth and sixth innings, but were shut down by solid Marlin defense and

strikeouts by reliever Seagondollar.

In Farm Division play:

The Reds and the Rockies met for the second time in just over a week

in the last night game of the regular season. Both teams racked up runs

in certain innings and were shut down in other innings. Both teams played

solid offense and defense throughout the game. Nathan Frank went 4 for 4

for the Rockies racking up three singles and a double, with two RBIs and

a run scored. Erik Rasmussen hit for an RBI single three times and scored

a run for the Rockies. The Rockies also got help from Matthew Spicer who

batted for a double and three singles and scored two runs. Aaron Wood hit

four singles, added a double and scored two runs for the Rockies. Maliah

Murtha hit three singles and a double, and accounted for three Rockies’

runs, while knocking in three. Noah Jeyarajah singled twice for the

Rockies, had two RBIs and a run scored. Alex Mazur connected for several

hits that went straight to various Reds players for recorded outs. During

the Rockies’ sixth inning rally, Mazur finally hit one past the infield

for a base hit, and eventually scored a run for the Rockies. Robert

Murtha scored three runs for the Rockies, and knocked in four more RBIs,

going 4 for 4 in the contest. Adam Ward had a single and double for the

Rockies, while scoring two runs. The Reds will take on the Mets Saturday

morning, while the Rockies will face the Pirates.