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.