District 62 TOC baseball: Enjoying the journey

Steve Virgen

FOUNTAIN VALLEY - Not even a 13-3 mercy-rule loss could disappoint

the Costa Mesa American Little League Minor B Indians. Their improvement

throughout the season exceeded expectations and landed them in the second

round of the District 62 Tournament of Champions.

The Indians ran into an undefeated Yankees team (21-0), champion of

the Fountain Valley Little League, Saturday at Mile Square Park. But the

CMALL squad never quit and, after the four-inning game, the Indians were

commended on their successful season.

“It has been a really fun season,” Indians Manager Pete Lewis said.

“We had a lot of kids who had not played baseball before when the season

started. They became good baseball players. To be in the second round of

TOC and to finish second in the league, that says a lot about them and

their improvement.”

The Yankees displayed aggressive baserunning and, as a result, scored

seven runs on passed balls or throwing errors. Six of the Yankees’ first

nine runs came from Indian miscues and the Yankees led, 9-1, after three

innings.

The Indians scored one run in the top of the third, when Martin

Mysyski pounded out the only extra-base hit of the game. He smacked a

ground ball toward second base that became a tricky hop, banging against

the bag and floating over the center

fielder’s glove for a double. Mysyski advanced to third on a throwing

error and he scored on a passed ball, as he slid home to beat the tag.

After the Yankees scored five runs in the bottom of the third, the

Indians showed some resilience and pushed two runs across in the fourth,

cutting the deficit to 9-3.

The Indians then ended the game with four runs in the bottom half of

the fourth.

Indians catcher Mike Quiros, who celebrated his birthday Saturday,

scored, as did first baseman J.T. McLuckey. Quiros used his speed to

reach base on an infield single. McLuckey, who reached on an error,

displayed smart baserunning skills, advancing to third on a passed ball

and taking off for home on a throwing error.

For the Indians, Lila Blackney and Nick Bernstein reached base on

walks in the third and Aaron White, who also pitched, got on base on an

error in the second.

James Lewis started the game on the mound for the Indians. He threw 80

pitches, including six strikeouts. He allowed just four hits.

Trace Curet, who successfully fielded a ground ball as a second

baseman in the third, Tommy Stephens, Nick Bernstein, Zach Lehman, Kody

Backos and C.J. Arehart also contributed to the Indians’ impressive

season.