Distrcit 55 All-Stars Tournament: Newport outlasts Lake Forest in

11, 4-3

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - The Newport Beach Little League National Major All-Stars

played the game of their lives, and catcher Garrett Amoroso earned the

biggest RBI of his life against Lake Forest Saturday night in the

District 55 All-Stars Tournament. Here was the scenario: Bottom of the

11th, the score tied, 3-3, two out, the bases loaded and a full count to

Amoroso, who had struck out five times before what proved to be his last

at-bat of the three-hour game.

Amoroso, after battling through seven pitches (he fouled twice),

collected the RBI by taking his fourth ball, which scored Chris Rosen,

and the NBLL All-Stars celebrated the winner’s bracket victory, which

propelled them to the District 55 championship game at Hicks Canyon Park.

Newport Beach will play in the championship game Wednesday at 6 p.m.

The NBLL All-Stars will face the winner of the second-chance bracket,

which will be determined Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

“That’s the biggest RBI I ever had,” said Amoroso, who endured a case

of strep throat throughout the week and also took a pitch to his kneecap

in the top of the 10th. “I wanted to do whatever I could to get on base.

I was so glad we won. There were great efforts by every one.”

Certainly, a great effort came from Newport pitcher Scott Colton, who

gave his all through nine innings of work. He struck out three without a

walk, allowing eight hits and one earned run on 110 pitches.

Then there was Rosen. With two out in the bottom of the 11th, he

smacked a chopper over the Lake Forest third baseman and the ball bounced

to the left field corner for a double. Colton followed with an infield

single on an 0-2 pitch.

Shane Boras came up, and for the second time in the game, it appeared

the NBLL All-Stars won. A wild pitch hit Boras’ feet, but looked as if it

was a passed ball and Rosen crossed home plate ready to celebrate. But,

the umpire quieted the rambunctious crowd on Newport’s side by calling

the hit by pitch, setting the stage for Amoroso.

“This is a special group,” Newport Manager Bob Rovzar said of his

All-Stars. “That’s the most unbelievable youth sports game I have ever

seen. These guys they could have hung their heads and called it quits.

But our guys came back. I couldn’t be more proud.”

In the bottom of the seventh, with two out, Colton singled to the gap

in left center. He moved over to second after Boras walked, and then came

controversy. With the count 1-1 to Amoroso, Lake Forest pitcher Nolan

Arenado recorded a passed ball. Colton sprinted to third, and a throwing

error from the Lake Forest catcher caused Colton to go for home. Colton

slid safely, and the home base umpire appeared to have called the game,

as the NBLL All-Stars and their loud supporters reveled in the moment.

But, the second base umpire waved his hand and said that Colton had

left second base too early on the passed ball. Colton had to go back to

second. Amoroso battled to a full count and struck out.

In the top of the 10th, Lake Forest went ahead, 3-2, but Aaron

Northcraft recorded his second strikeout of the frame, with runners on

second and third.

Newport Beach answered with a run in the bottom of the 10th, as Colton

scored on a throwing error. He reached on an error and advanced to second

after Boras walked. Then, it was hero-time for Northcraft, who battled

back from an 0-2 count, sent a 3-2 pitch to the gap in right center for a

single, which led to the throwing error.

“Northcraft had been waiting for his moment,” Rovzar said. “He really

stepped up, and with his pitching, too.”

Newport scored two runs in the second. Michael Page, who was hit by a

pitch, scored on Connor Whalen’s sacrifice fly to right. Then, Thomas

Dialynas slid at home after Andy Rovzar’s RBI ground out.

Newport’s Luke Greiner collected three hits, including two bunts.

Lake Forest, which had three pitchers who combined for 16 strikeouts,

scored one run in the third and unearned run in the fifth. Jonathan

Fernandez, Lake Forest’s No. 9 batter, pounded out a first pitch over the

left-field fence for a home run in the third.