District 62 Tournament of Champions: Yankees run past Rockies

Bryce Alderton

COSTA MESA - Though Costa Mesa American Little League Yankees

Manager Phil Bagby didn’t know if his players were nervous, he felt the

butterflies during his team’s 4-3 victory over the Huntington Valley

Rockies in a first-round Minor A game of the District 62 Tournament of

Champions Tuesday at Costa Mesa High.

“I almost threw up,” Bagby said laughing. “In that third inning, I was

queasy.”

The Rockies (ages 9-10) managed to score only one run in that third

inning, leaving a runner at third base. Yankees’ pitcher Chris Gute

fielded a comebacker and threw to first for the second out, then shorstop

Austin Bagby caught a fly ball for the third out.

That was the final run of the game for either team.

Now, the Yankees (14-5) move on to face the Costa Mesa National

Dodgers Saturday at noon in a quarterfinal clash at the same site.

The Yankees jumped out with three runs in the first inning as Gute and

Bagby both singled with one out. First baseman Kevin Hoffman grounded out

to third to score the first run. Roland Wood then walked and both Gute

and Wood scored on passed balls to give the Yankees the lead for good.

In the second, third baseman Kyle Myres led off with a single to the

shortstop hole and stole second. After a strikeout, Josh Bowman beat out

a roller to the right side for an infield hit, as Myres used his speed to

score from second.

Alert baserunning and speed helped the Yankees in this game, which

pleased Bagby.

“We definitely have players who have speed,” Bagby said. “I’ve told

them to really be looking for the extra-base hit, and look for any error

where they could advance.”

The Rockies, trailing, 4-3, in the fourth, loaded the bases with one

out on three consecutive walks. But Bagby closed the door, fielding a

comebacker and throwing to the plate for the second out. He then got some

help from second baseman Matt Mello, who moved to his left to make a

reaching catch a line drive.

A key defensive play helped the Yankees quell a potential sixth-inning

Rockie rally, which began with a leadoff walk. On the first pitch to the

next hitter, Yankee catcher Gute fired to first baseman Hoffman, who

fielded the throw in front of the bag, then quickly positioned his right

foot in front of the base, blocking the path of the runner, who had

strayed off the bag.

Nic Hanson singled sharply to right on the next pitch, but was

stranded at first when Yankee center fielder Dylan Gravelle caught a fly

ball and Hoffman knocked down a grounder and hustled to the bag for the

final out.

Yankee fans erupted in cheers after the final out, as the Yankees ran

toward their dugout with smiles on their faces to greet their coaches

with high-fives and hugs.

Some fans couldn’t contain their excitement.

“I’m so happy, I could cry. This is so exciting,” said Julie Peterson

mother of the Yankees’ Kyle Peterson.

Rockies Manager Steve Shideler praised his team for its resiliency.

“They went down swinging,” Shideler said. “I’m proud of them the way

they fought. It was a good game, a fun game.”

Just as the Yankees used their speed on the basepaths to score their

four runs, the Rockies were opportunistic on the base paths. The Rockies’

two first-inning runs scored on passed balls.

Sam Mikuloc walked to lead off the game and stole a base after

starting pitcher Alan Shideler singled to center field. Sam Hunt then

took ball four, which got away from the catcher, allowing Mikuloc to

score. Hunt eventually came around to score with two outs on a wild pitch

to stake the Rockies to a 2-0 lead.

In the inning, Yankees’ catcher Wood threw a runner out at third.

Myres sparkled at the plate, singling twice and scoring a run. Josh

Bowman and Joey Blackwell added singles for the Yankees.

Gute started the game for the Yankees, striking out three in three

innings. Bagby pitched the final three innings, allowing no runs on one

hit, while striking out two. The Yankees allowed only one hit after the

third inning.