Dodgers rally for Victor-y

Steve Virgen

Two simple words spoke volumes to how the Costa Mesa National Little

League Minor B Dodgers were feeling after their breathtaking,

come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Pirates.

“Really good,” said Victor Trujillo in reference to how he felt

after delivering the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth in a

quarterfinal of the District 62 Tournament of Champions at LeBard

Park Saturday.

The Dodgers’ thrilling win advanced them to the semifinals, which

will be played Monday at 5 p.m., again at LeBard Park.

In the bottom of the sixth inning with no out and the score tied,

4-4, Trujillo, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher who produced three

no-hit innings, popped a high fly ball over the second baseman,

bringing in Kannon Stone. Trujillo raised his right hand in the air

as he rounded first. He then ran into the arms of Manager Kirk Stone,

who picked up the boy and the two cheered and smiled.

Leadoff hitter Matt Carlyle, who went 3 for 3 with two runs and an

RBI, provided momentum for the Dodgers with his double to start the

sixth inning. His line drive hit the fence in left-center field. He

advanced to third on a passed ball, and slid home for the tying run

on a wild pitch.

Before Carlyle scored, Kannon Stone came up with a base hit, a

shallow groundball toward third base. The Pirates’ pitcher retrieved

it and flinched to throw Carlyle out at third. Meanwhile, Stone

touched first and stole second. He eventually advanced to third on

the aforementioned wild pitch.

Trujillo came to the plate with great confidence.

“I was saying to myself, ‘I want this hit,’ and, ‘We’re going to

win,’” Trujillo said.

Trujillo, a 10-year-old, struck out five of the 11 batters he

faced in the game’s first three innings. He probably would have

struck out the final batter he faced, but he got the runner out at

first with a pick-off play to end the top of the third.

Trujillo, who went 2 for 2, scored two runs and was hit by a

pitch, had two strikes to Jared Martinez. Trujillo saw the Pirates’

runner, Bobby Pacho, off first base and threw the ball to his

teammate Eddie Bisoso, who recorded an assist after his throw to

Kannon Stone. The Dodgers’ shortstop, Kannon Stone, tagged Pacho out.

During his post-game speech, Kirk Stone had a difficult time

deciding who should be awarded the game ball.

“I wish I could cut this ball up and give it to several of you,”

Kirk Stone told his team. “I have to give it to Victor. Victor really

shut this team down.”

For the first time this season, Trujillo did not allow a hit

during three innings. As Trujillo took care of business on the mound,

the Dodgers built a 3-0 lead.

Carlyle and Trujillo scored in the first inning after Jake

Spielberger’s well-placed bunt single. The bunt led to a throwing

error, scoring Carlyle and Trujillo.

Brodie Pierce scored for the Dodgers (20-4) in the third. He was

hit by the pitch to reach base. He advanced to second and third on

wild pitches. Then, Carlyle knocked him in after his hard-hit

groundball past second base.

The Pirates (17-3) answered with three runs in the fourth. They

went ahead, 4-3, after scoring a run in the fifth. But Kannon Stone

would not let the Pirates score again. Stone, who came on in the

fourth with the bases loaded, struck out six in 2 2/3 innings to

collect the win. He recorded three strikeouts in his scoreless sixth

inning.

Bisoso and Hans Anderle finished with one hit each, contributing

to the Dodgers’ six. The Pirates had two hits.