Newport All-Stars get second chance

Steve Virgen

IRVINE -- Today is a new day. Those are the words the Newport

Beach Little League National All-Stars are focusing on as they

prepare to face North Mission Viejo, again, for the District 55 Major

All-Stars title at 6:30 p.m. at Hicks Canyon Park in Irvine.

The North Mission Viejo All-Stars, winners of their last four and

led by first baseman Derek Trippy, defeated previously unbeaten

Newport Beach, 6-3, Wednesday. Trippy accounted for five runs,

smacking out two home runs, the latter a two-run shot in the top of

the sixth. He went 3 for 4, scored four runs and earned three RBIs.

Newport did not help its cause, committing four errors and

appearing a bit nervous.

“Our defense was off,” Newport Manager Bob Rovzar said. “(Today)

is another day, that’s the beauty of it. We’ll come ready to play

(today), no doubt about that.”

North Mission Viejo, which won the second-chance bracket with a

3-0 victory over Lake Forest Tuesday, broke away from a 3-3 tie after

three innings. With two out in the top of the fifth, Trippy smacked a

solo shot just inside the foul pole in right field on a 0-1 pitch.

Then, in the sixth, he hammered out a 1-2 pitch over the left field

fence for the 6-3 lead.

“Our guys were nervous,” Rovzar said. “We were just a little

tentative. But (Newport) will bounce back. I know they will. (North

Mission Viejo’s All-Stars) are going to be tired. (Today) will be a

tougher deal for them.”

North Mission Viejo suffered a 10-0 mercy-rule loss to Lake Forest

seven days before facing Newport. In those seven days, the NMV

All-Stars won four games. Trippy homered in the first inning Tuesday

to lead Mission to the 3-0 win over Lake Forest.

“(The NMV All-Stars) got pushed into a corner,” Mission Manager

Dallas Trippy said. “And, they have come out fighting. They want to

win. When these kids were (10-year-olds) they won (District 55).”

Newport, which scored a 4-3, 11-inning win over Lake Forest

Saturday, came out a bit rusty Wednesday. Mission took advantage

loading the bases after a fielder’s choice, a double and a hit by

pitch. The NMV All-Stars scored one run on an error and Newport

pitcher Chris Rosen ended the inning, inducing a pop fly to right,

which Thomas Dialynas easily gloved.

Newport went three and out in its first at-bat, but Rosen retired

the side in order in the top of the second. He struck out two

batters. Rosen went the distance, recording four strikeouts without a

walk and leading Mission batters into six ground outs.

In the bottom of the second, Newport scored two runs, as Shane

Boras and Dialynas crossed home plate. Boras reached on a single, a

tricky ground ball that hit second base. Dialynas followed with a

single to the gap in left center field. Pinch-hitter Aaron Northcraft

slugged a single to the left field corner that scored Boras, and an

error in the outfield allowed Dialynas to score. Dialynas had two of

Newport’s six hits. Colton also finished with two hits, while

Northcraft and Boras contributed one each.

Connor Whalen, who scored in the third, reached on a walk. He

advanced to second on a passed ball and then on to third on an error.

Newport first baseman Scott Colton singled to the gap in right

center to bring Whalen home, tying the score at 3-3.

North Mission Viejo, which collected eight hits, will be the

designating visitors today. Manager Dallas Trippy won the coin toss,

again, and chose to be up to bat first.