Rough start for CMALL All-Stars

Steve Virgen

For a moment, the Costa Mesa American Little League Major All-Stars

seemed as if they had all the momentum to overcome a poor start. But

the moment came and went quickly, as Costa Mesa lost, 6-4, to

Westminster in the first round of the District 62 Major All-Star

tournament at the Huntington Valley Little League fields Tuesday.

Costa Mesa’s Chris Robinson completed a spectacular play to end

the top of the sixth inning. He gloved a base hit in left field and

made a long, accurate throw to nail Westminster’s Kevin Tunby at the

plate.

Tunby tried to score from second base, but could not beat the

throw, as he slid and was called out after catcher Chris Gute tagged

him out.

The Costa Mesa American All-Stars shouted and seemed as if they

would rally for the win, but just as they did a few times throughout

the contest, the CMALL All-Stars let their opportunity slip away.

They were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth. However, they

will have a second chance today.

Costa Mesa American will face Fountain Valley in the

double-elimination tournament today at 5 p.m. at the Huntington

Valley Little League fields.

“They brought in the desire to win and I hope they come back with

the same desire,” said Phil Bagby, the Costa Mesa American Manager.

“I hope the level of intensity has increased.”

Bagby said he enjoyed his team’s fighting spirit, which was shown

when Costa Mesa nearly overcame a 6-0 deficit. Westminster scored

four runs in the first inning, taking advantage of four straight

walks to open the frame.

“One bad inning sort of set the tone for us,” Bagby said. “When

you start into a game like this, there’s a lot of pressure for the

kids. Some can overcome it quicker than others. That first inning was

important.”

Robinson, Costa Mesa’s starting pitcher, walked Westminster’s

first four batters, three were after the full count. Westminster also

scored one run on a wild pitch and then Mike Molina relieved

Robinson, who displayed Costa Mesa’s no-quit attitude. Robinson went

2 for 3 at the plate, scored a run and produced Costa Mesa’s first

RBI.

In the top of the second, Westminster scored two runs, helped by

two fly balls that appeared to cause problems in the outfield because

of the sun. However, Costa Mesa answered quickly with three runs in

the bottom of the second.

Molina led off the bottom of the second with a base hit to right

field.

He advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then really showed

his speed after Robinson’s RBI single fired past the first baseman.

Robinson also used his quickness to round second, third and home

after Ryan Bougler’s ground ball to the pitcher led to a throwing

error. Boulger scored on Jake Johnston’s RBI groundout.

Costa Mesa, led by Molina’s pitching, held Westminster scoreless

in the final four innings, as Molina allowed just one hit. Mike

Kelly, Costa Mesa’s shortstop, helped provide a double play in the

third. He snagged a line drive and threw out the runner who had left

first base.

In the fifth inning, Kelly dazzled the Little League fans with a

deft backhand grab of a line drive.

“Our fielding went rough because of the sun,” Bagby said. “But we

did make some plays. We left too many runners on base [four,

including two in the fifth] and we had some baserunning errors.”

Costa Mesa scored one run in the fifth after Molina’s single

brought in Jesse Dawson.

Also in the fifth, Ben Lounsbury might have had a triple, but his

hit to left field rolled under the fence, resulting in a ground-rule

double.

Kelly and Molina provided two hits each for Costa Mesa.