Newport falls in seventh

No lead was safe as the Newport Beach Little League AAA All-Star

Tournament team fell to South Mission Viejo, 13-12, in extra innings,

in the second round of District 55 play.

Newport trailed, 8-1, starting the third inning, before coming

back to take the lead, 10-8, in the top of the fifth. Newport had

leads of 11-9 and 12-11, but SMV tallied three consecutive hits in

the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

With the score 11-9 in the bottom of the sixth, the first two SMV

batters walked and the third was hit by a pitch. Another walk and an

error scored two to tie the game with only one out.

But with the bases loaded, Brent Lawson (three hits) caught a line

drive and threw to first baseman Andrew Machoskie to pick off the

runner for a dramatic double play to force extra innings.

Newport took a brief 12-11 lead in the seventh when Austin

Blodgett singled in Sam Cubeiro from second. Zach Murtaugh also

singled in the inning for Newport.

Newport’s bats came alive in the fifth inning. Cubeiro began the

inning with a single and walks to Fraser and Blodgett loaded the

bases for Lawson, who singled in Cubeiro. Cort Hastings then belted a

double to center field, scoring three runs. J.D. Dawn later scored

Hastings on an error and Brennan Anderson plated Dawn with a hit to

put Newport ahead, 10-8.

Fraser walked to start the third inning with Newport down, 8-1.

Blodgett singled and following a fielder’s choice, Hastings knocked

him in with a hit. Dawn then singled to load the bases and Machoskie

slammed a deep single to center to score Lawson and Hastings, who

went 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

Newport continues District 55 play tonight against either Laguna

Beach or Saddleback.