Little League All-Stars: Costa Mesa squeaks out opener, 1-0

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Baseball purists often use the term “a game of

inches.”

Nowhere was that phrase more prevalent than during Saturday’s District

62 All-Star Tournament opener won by the Costa Mesa National Majors over

Westminster, 1-0, at Wardlow Park.

In the bottom of the sixth with one runner on and two outs and Costa

Mesa protecting a 1-0 lead, a Westminster batter hit a long fly ball into

center field that hit the fence and bounced back in play. Juan Guzman

fielded the ball and threw it to second baseman Ryan Redding, who fired

it to catcher Bryan Bennett to keep the runner at third.

Redding then fielded a grounder by the next hitter and threw out the

runner at first to end the game.

Earlier in the inning, Anthony Secrest ran in to field a grounder and

threw out the leadoff runner at second for the first out.

Costa Mesa’s defense flourished in this game, with Adam Seagondollar

making several key plays at shortstop and Brandon Maurer playing strong

at first base.

Garrick Williams made a diving catch in left field in the fifth

inning, and Redding made two catches at second on a line drive and a fly

ball in the fifth inning.

Justin Long pitched all six innings for Costa Mesa, striking out six

batters while allowing only two hits.

Costa Mesa scored the only run in the top of the sixth on an RBI

single to right field by Seagondollar that scored Maurer. Redding singled

earlier in the inning, with Maurer reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Bryan Bennett singled Maurer to second and Maurer then advanced to

third on Long’s fielder’s choice. Brandon Grimmett walked to load the

bases, setting the table for Seagondollar, who came through with his

clutch hit.

Costa Mesa next plays Huntington Valley Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the

same site.