Mariners wrap up majors crown

The Costa Mesa American Little League Mariners defeated the Angels

for the Majors division championship, 8-2, June 7.

Throughout the season, the Mariners (13-7) were led by Mike

Molina, who struck out 11 against the Yankees for a win. Ryan Boulger

hit two home runs in one game and Chris Gute added two homers in

another game. Molina, David Hovdestad and Roland Wood each added one.

Outfielders Nico Sauceda, Hovdestad, Justin Miller, Austin Bagby

and Scott Beach provided strong defense. Wood, Molina, Brandon Kelly,

Mike Kelly, Boulger and Gute all saw action in the infield.

Wood, Molina, Mike Kelly, Boulger, Bagby and Brandon Kelly all

pitched.

The Mariners played their first game in the District 62 Tournament

of Champions Tuesday at Huntington Valley Little League.

In Newport Harbor Baseball Association Mustang playoff action:

* Reds 4, Cubs 3

The Reds forced another game against the Cubs to determine the

division title with the win. The Cubs -- in their fourth playoff game

-- had eight hits but left eight runners stranded. The Reds’ defense

came up with timely plays.

The Cubs and Reds faced each other in the championship game

Saturday at Kaiser Elementary School.

Earlier in the week the Cubs defeated the Reds, 3-2. Connor

LoMenzo stymied the Reds’ comeback attempt in the bottom of the sixth

inning with a strikeout for the final out after assisting on a putout

at the plate on the previous play.

With two men on and one out in the bottom of the sixth, Brett

Parker singled home one run and Jake Hall followed with a double to

plate an additional run before LoMenzo closed out the game.

Cubs’ leadoff hitter Nat Johnson scored two runs against a strong

Reds’ pitching staff. Max Gerard and Brice Manning allowed five hits

through six innings while Cubs’ hurlers Austin Rios, Vincent

Aqueveque and LoMenzo combined for the victory.

In Costa Mesa National Little League Majors action:

* Diamondbacks 4, Padres 2

Gavin Montague pitched three innings, striking out six, while Troy

McClanahan threw the final three innings, fanning three, to preserve

the win.

McClanahan, Montague and Joshua Erno each went 2 for 2 and scored

a run while Joe Zida also had two hits in two at-bats. Zida attempted

to steal home, but was tagged out.

Ryan Boselo, Sean Anderson and Patrick McGuire each singled while

Ryan Churney and Anderson each made key putouts.

In Farm play:

* Padres 10, Rockies 8

The Padres kept their championship dreams alive by defeating the

Rockies to force a second game to decide the division title.

Shortstop Patrick Cromwell threw out three runners in the last

inning while Max Gilbert, Brian Jolivette, Noah Jeyarajah, Ryan

Adkisson and Joshua Butler each had multi-hit games. Gabriel Ruan,

Brandon Long and Brian Cromwell made strong plays in the field.

Manolo Laguna hit a sharp liner to right field for a hit while

John Santoyo collected two RBIs.

* Mets 28, D-backs 19

The Mets, who finished fourth in the Farm tournament, were led by

Chad Fackler, Brandon Dieckhoff and Jake Stone. All three earned Most

Valuable Player honors and received game balls.

Dieckhoff cleared the fence twice for home runs while Fackler

slammed five doubles to go with five RBIs. Stone caught a line drive

in the third and fifth innings and went 5 for 5 with five RBIs.

Ryan West knocked in four runs and threw a ball from right field

to the pitcher to prevent a run from scoring. Matt Thomas had a hit

in each of his at-bats and drove in four runs. Cassie Stevenson also

had a hit in each of her at-bats and drove in three runs. Ray Barkis

doubled and singled three times while Eric Pfautz and William Reed

each added hits in all of their at-bats.

Harrison Stern slammed a strong hit in the third inning and was

robbed of a double by a D-back defender.

Brad Wilson added hits in the both the third and fourth innings.

He added a strong inning on the mound.