Little League All-Stars: Seaview tops Costa Mesa American

Steve Virgen

HUNTINGTON BEACH - The Costa Mesa American Little League All-Stars

tickled one another, laughed and made funny noises while posing for a

picture Tuesday at LeBard Park. The average spectator would have had no

have idea this was a team that was just eliminated from the District 62

Majors Division All-Star Tournament, after dropping a 2-0 pitchers duel

to Seaview from Huntington Beach.

“Play hard! Have fun,” the Costa Mesa All-Stars yelled in a huddle

before their battle with Seaview. And, they clearly appeared to have fun.

In addition, Costa Mesa’s All-Stars remained satisfied afterward,

because of the sound defense they displayed.

Costa Mesa pitcher Andrew Millian went the distance. He allowed just

three hits and struck out four without a walk, all with an economical 66

pitches.

Seaview’s two runs were unearned, one in the top of the third on a

passed ball and another in the fifth on a throwing error.

Millian retired the side in order in the first, second and fourth

innings.

“He played really well,” Costa Mesa Manager Scott Willson said of

Millian. “The whole team played great. There were a lot of great

defensive plays.”

Seaview had some strong pitching of its own from left-hander Aaron

Amaral, who dealt a complete game for his first one-hit shutout of the

season. He struck out 11 batters in 88 pitches and was backed by a

defense that did not allow a Costa Mesa runner past second base.

Mike Willson, who walked, advanced to second on a passed ball in the

bottom of the first, and Millian also walked. But they were left

stranded. Costa Mesa also stranded Andrew Niles in the fourth, while

another, Millian, was stranded in the sixth.

Mike Willson, who started at second base, came up with Costa Mesa’s

lone hit. He sent a high chopper toward second base and beat out the

throw to first. Niles’ hard-hit ground ball caused an error in the bottom

of the fourth, but other than that, Amaral was in command.

“It’s crushing,” Scott Willson said of the loss. “It just goes back to

the fundamentals and putting the bat on the ball. We weren’t doing it.”

Costa Mesa catcher Cody Spoulos and third baseman Andy Venegas

completed electrifying defensive plays. In the top of the third, Spoulos

tagged out a sliding Kenny Miller, who was attempting to score from third

on Nolan Marcucci’s weak ground ball to Millian. Marcucci sprinted to

first, trying to get on board on a fielder’s choice. But, he turned

toward the infield after touching the bag and Spoulos made the quick

throw to Andy Dawson for the out at first, ending the inning.

Venegas ended the fifth inning when he jumped up to glove a high

chopper that appeared to be headed for left field. He then sent a dart to

first for the out.

Luke Boulger, Costa Mesa’s starting third baseman, assisted on two

putouts in the first inning. One was a line drive off the glove off

Millian that Boulger quickly picked up and made the throw to Dawson. Mike

Willson, playing second base, also assisted on two putouts in the second.