Mission’s momentum too much, 13-6

Steve Virgen

While one team enjoyed an ending usually found in storybooks, the

other suffered a letdown typically associated with nightmares.

The other, the Newport Beach Little League National All-Stars,

lost to the one team, North Mission Viejo, which won five straight

games, including a 13-6 victory that resulted in the championship of

the District 55 All-Star Majors Tournament Thursday at Hicks Canyon

Park in Irvine.

Newport Beach, however, displayed the character that was one of

the main reasons it won the District 55 winner’s bracket. Trailing

10-1, with two out in the bottom of the fifth, Newport Beach first

baseman Chris Rosen sent a towering shot over the scoreboard in

center field for a three-run home run. Andy Rovzar and Connor Whalen

scored. The duo singled with two out. Whalen’s base hit was an

infield single and Rovzar lined to the gap in left center.

In addition, catcher Garrett Amoroso, one of the heroes from

Newport’s 4-3, 11-inning win over Lake Forest Saturday, smacked out a

two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.

“North Mission Viejo definitely earned (the District 55

championship),” NBLL Manager Bob Rovzar said. “(The postgame speech

was) kind of emotional. You get into the team and a group of kids who

worked so hard. (But) when you fall behind early and get some tough

bouncers, that’s when you can see (Newport) get real tentative.”

North Mission Viejo, which lost 10-0 to Lake Forest July 10 and

then won five games in six days, amassed 17 hits. The NMV All-Stars

scored two runs in each of the first second, and third innings. And,

when they were down to their last out in the third, they scored three

more runs, which led to a 9-1 lead. Four of the nine runs came

unearned, as the NBLL All-Stars committed four errors. They finished

with seven errors, while Mission had zero.

“That was, by far, our best hitting game of the tournament,”

Mission Manager Dallas Trippy said. “I read in (the Daily Pilot) that

their coach said we were going to be tired in this game. But I knew

we were going to be ready to play. It’s like we’re ready to play

again (today).”

Derek Trippy, the first baseman who homered twice in Mission’s 6-3

win Wednesday, went 2 for 5, reached on an error twice and scored one

run. Also, Gabe Soria helped Mission with a 4-for-5 outing, which

included two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. The NMV All-Stars

collected seven doubles.

With the win, they advance to the All-Stars Section 5 Tournament,

which starts Saturday at Wardlow Park in Huntington Beach.

Rosen, who also played in right field, led Newport at the plate

with a 3-for-3 performance, which included three RBIs and two runs

scored. Aaron Northcraft, who pitched the final two innings,

relieving Scott Colton, singled in the sixth before Amoroso’s home

run.

Newport second baseman Shane Boras blooped a single over the

shortstop for an RBI base hit that scored Rosen, who had an infield

single, in the fourth.

“You’re going to see these kids go on and play well wherever they

go,” Bob Rovzar said. “It’s been a great tournament. There was

unbelievable support from the community. (The NBLL All-Stars) will

look back and this will all be a great memory.”

One of the great memories came from Newport’s marathon battle with

Lake Forest Saturday. Colton, who pitched four innings Wednesday,

completed nine innings against Lake Forest. He allowed one earned

run, struck out three without a walk on 110 pitches.

Colton had missed six weeks of action with a shoulder injury, but

made his comeback in the District 55 Tournament.

Amoroso, who had struck out five times before his last at bat,

faced a full count with the bases loaded, two out and the score tied,

3-3, in the bottom of the 11th. He took a walk and Newport

celebrated.

The NBLL All-Stars also defeated San Clemente, 2-1, when Whalen

pounded a game-winning double on an 0-2 pitch with two out and two on

in the fifth. Thomas Dialynas and Scott Ely scored.

Newport also earned victories over Rancho Santa Margarita, 7-4,

and Rancho Mission Viejo, 3-0.