Huntington Valley rallies for 3-2 win

A veteran Fountain Valley team that was considered to be one of the

top teams in contention for the 2002 District 62 Little League All-Star

Tournament of Champions Majors Division title found the role of favorite

unsettling Saturday.

Huntington Valley, itself a strong contender for the crown, put

Fountain Valley into loser’s bracket play after it rallied to win 3-2 in

the tournament’s opening day of double elimination play.

Huntington Valley, which again combined solid pitching with top-notch

defense, battled back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to advance to take on

Costa Mesa National in a winner’s bracket contest Wednesday night.

“Our guys battled back nicely to beat a strong Fountain Valley team,”

Huntington Valley Manager John Parmenter said.

Fountain Valley had taken a 1-0 lead before Huntington Valley scored

its first run, which came on an RBI single by Mike Bogard in the top of

the third inning.

Bogard also doubled to lead Huntington Valley with two hits.

After a home run in the bottom of the inning put Fountain Valley back

on top, 2-1, Huntington Valley came up with a two-run rally in the

top-half of the fourth to take the lead for good.

Pablo McBeth provided some offensive firepower by doubling of the wall

in right field. With Barry Luke pinch running for McBeth, Clayton

Prestridge’s ground out moved Luke to third base.

After pinch hitter Fred Thomas was hit by a pitch to put runners at

the corners, Trevor Briggs dropped a bloop hit into the outfield, which

brought Luke home with the tying run.

Dave Folger delivered the game-winning RBI for Huntington Valley

moments later, scoring Thomas for a 3-2 lead.

Alex Barnes pitched the final three innings for Huntington Valley. He

limited Fountain Valley to an infield single and didn’t allow a run after

Huntington Valley had forged a 2-2 tie.