Little League baseball: NBLL’s Colton shoulders load
Steve Virgen
IRVINE - The Newport Beach Little League National All-Stars,
inspired by pitcher Scott Colton, scored three runs in the top of the
sixth inning to defeat Rancho Santa Margarita, 7-4, Saturday in the
quarterfinals of the District 55 Majors All-Stars Tournament at Hicks
Canyon Park.
Colton, sidelined the last six weeks with a shoulder injury, made his
comeback against Rancho and pitched his first complete game of the
season. He recorded six strikeouts without a walk and retired the side in
order in the second and fourth innings.
“We thought he would only pitch three innings,” Newport Manager Bob
Rovzar said. “He’s been injured for the past six weeks. And, he comes in
and works hard. What a grinder.”
Rancho scored two runs with one out in the bottom of the fifth to tie
the score, 4-4. But, Colton retired the next two batters, inducing a
groundout and then throwing three straight strikes.
The Newport Beach All-Stars responded to Colton’s effort with three
runs in the top of the sixth. Chris Rosen led off with a single to the
gap in right center. After a groundout, and a passed ball that advanced
Rosen to second, Shane Boras looped a single to right to put runners on
the corners.
Rosen came home on another passed ball, which proved to be the winning
run. Garrett Amoroso, Newport’s catcher, collected an RBI single that
plated Boras and he later scored on a throwing error.
“This team is working really hard,” Rovzar said. “Everybody had a job
to do and they did it. Some guys are stepping up with key hits and key
plays on defense. This is a good group of kids. They have a real chance
(in the District 55 tournament).”
Colton held Rancho scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, when Colton
came up with a strikeout and shortstop Andy Rovzar initiated a dazzling
double play.
With a runner on first and second, Andy Rovzar fielded a ground ball
up the middle, stepped on second for the force, then threw a dart to
Rosen at first for the double play to end the game.
Newport showed its command from the outset. Whalen singled, advanced
to second on a passed ball and went to third on a fielder’s choice. He
then scored on Colton’s sacrifice fly.
Rancho answered with a solo home run in the first by Kyle Aldridge,
who sent an 0-2 pitch over the center-field fence.
Whalen had an RBI single in the second, which plated Thomas Dialynas,
who reached on an error. Luke Greiner executed a perfect bunt single to
drive in a run.
Rosen drove a first-pitch double into the left-field corner in the
third and later scored when pinch hitter Thomas Koss picked up an RBI on
a walk with the bases loaded. Rosen’s run gave Newport a 3-1 lead.
Amoroso made it 4-2 in the fifth, walking and later scoring on
Greiner’s well-placed bunt.
The Newport Beach All-Stars advance to the semifinals of the winner’s
bracket Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Hicks Canyon Park.
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