CMNLL baseball: Dodgers sweep D-backs

Bryce Alderton

COSTA MESA - The sun shone down through a clear blue sky.

An occasional late-afternoon sea breeze made fans reach for their

jackets or sweaters, but, all in all, ideal weather for baseball. And, at

the end of the afternoon Wednesday, ideal for the Dodgers, who used a

four-run first, steady pitching and rock-solid defense to defeat the

Diamondbacks for the Costa Mesa National Little League Majors Division

crown at TeWinkle Intermediate.

The Dodgers defeated the D-backs, 3-1, Monday to set up Wednesday’s

series-clinching win.

The Dodgers (18-6) won the second half of the regular season, while

the D-backs (16-6) won the first half to set up the best-of-three series.

What started out as a weak spot on defense at the beginning of the

year, turned into the team’s strength as the season progressed, said

Dodger Manager Kim Pedersen.

“I think (defense) is the backbone of our team, it’s really what’s

carried us through,” Pedersen said. “We haven’t given up many four-out

innings.”

The Dodgers didn’t commit any errors during the two playoff games

against the D-backs.

Alex Grosek made a sliding catch of a fly ball in right field, and

Cory Ames backpedaled onto the outfield grass behind his second base

position, lost his footing, but managed to catch a pop fly as he fell to

the ground for the last out of the game.

“I’m ecstatic,” Pedersen said. “I feel great for them. I can’t be any

more proud of a group of kids.”

After a six-hit, four-run first, the D-backs held the Dodgers

scoreless on two hits the rest of the way, but only managed one run of

their own.

“(The Dodgers) really played well,” D-back Manager Bill Redding said.

“Their hitting was outstanding. Good hitting outdoes good pitching.”

The Dodgers bats came alive in the top of the first as Justin Long

singled to center to score Ian Abernathy, who was hit by apitch to lead

off the game. Long would come around to score on Brandon Grimmett’s

triple down the left-field line. Grimmett then scored on Juan Guzman’s

double to left and eventually scored on Ames’ single, the fifth

consecutive hit in the inning.

The D-backs got their only run in the third, as Ryan Redding singled,

but got caught in a pickle between first and second as he tried to

advance to second. He stayed in the pickle just long enough to allow

right fielder Andrew Ayala to score.

Pitching took over the rest of the way for both teams.

Nick Pedersen threw three innings, allowing two hits and one run,

while striking out two and walking no one.

Pedersen was followed by Long, who pitched the final three innings,

allowing no runs, no hits and one walk, while striking out four.

After a shaky first, D-back hurlers responded with five scoreless

innings.

Brandon Maurer pitched the final three innings, striking out six with

no walks. He allowed only one hit to Bryan Bennett, who finished 2 for 2

with two singles and a walk.

Riley Hart started for the D-backs, striking out three in two innings.

Redding pitched one inning, allowing two walks and one hit, while

striking out two.

Both teams advance to the District 62 Tournament of Champions, which

begins Monday. The D-backs play Monday at 5 p.m. at Costa Mesa High

against the Robinwood Little League champion. The Dodgers get ready to

face either the Yankees or the Tigers from Costa Mesa American Little

League at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Fountain Valley.