Burns sparks Padres’ comeback win

Ryan Burns smacked a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the

sixth inning to complete a four-run rally and give the Padres a 5-4

victory over the Dodgers in Costa Mesa National Little League Majors

action April 24.

Trailing, 4-1, the Padres scored runs on a bunt single by Kevin

Thomas and a bases-loaded walk, before Burns’ hit. Burns and Eusebio

Castillo pitched for the Padres and were backed by strong defense

from Marc DeFrenza, Ryan Cherney and Jesus Rodriguez, all of whom

made nice catches in the infield.

In other Majors action:

* Angels 2, Giants 1:

Ryan Boselo hit an RBI single that scored Tyler Sullivan for the

Giants April 15, but the Angels tied the score in the bottom of the

same inning and scored the winning run in the fifth for the victory.

* Padres 5, Angels 4:

Jesse Fox hit a bases-loaded triple to tie the game, 4-4, and

eventually scored the game-winning run for the Padres in the bottom

of the sixth inning April 13.

Burns, DeFrenza and Castillo provided quality pitching for the

Padres and Castillo, Thomas and Cherney made defensive plays in the

infield.

Contributing to the Padres offense were singles by Colin Kincaid

and Thomas, and hits by Cherney, Daniel Derieg, Gian-Paul Stebbins

and DeFrenza.

* Giants 4, Angels 1:

Giant pitchers Sullivan and Boselo held the Athletics in check,

giving up one run and three hits through the first three innings of

the win April 13.

Middle reliever Kevin Keyser took over firing two innings of

shutout ball before handing it to closer Ryan Christopher. Sullivan

and Christopher each had two RBIs.

In Minor A play:

* Diamondbacks 14, Yankees 9:

Kyle Orton gave up only two runs in four innings and closer

Christian Aguilar struck out two batters in the top of the fifth to

key the Diamondbacks’ victory April 24.

.* Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 3:

A two-run double by Chris DeSoto in the second inning gave the

Diamondbacks a four-run lead and they never looked back April 21.

Aguilar, Brodie Pearce and Austin Abernathy made defensive plays for

the Diamondbacks.

In Minor B play:

* Cubs 13, Dodgers 12:

Jake Stone’s bases-loaded RBI scored the winning run after Lucas

DeLaTorre’s hard shot to third tied the score for the Cubs in the

bottom of the sixth inning April 24.

The Dodgers took a one-run lead in the top of the sixth with five

consecutive hits, including a leadoff double by Jeff Carlyle,

followed by a triple down the first-base line by Chris Vasquez. Ben

Beck, Eric Pfautz, Kaimon Brust and Nathan Pearson each singled in

the inning with Brust and Pearson’s singles driving in the tying and

go-ahead runs.

* Cubs 13, Red Sox 3:

Chad Fackler hit a two-run inside-the-park home run in the second

inning and Adam Ward went 2 for 3 with a run and three RBI to lead

the Cubs’ triumph April 19. Also swinging the lumber for the Cubs

were Jake Stone, who pounded two doubles, scored a run and drove in

two more, and Lucas DeLaTorre, who went 3 for 3 and scored two runs.

Chris Hernandez went 2 for 3 with a double and Hayden Swift reached

base and scored in all three at-bats. Grant Spady saved run with a

defensive play in right field for the Cubs.

* Cubs 9, Giants 6:

The Cubs rallied to beat the Giants for their first victory of the

season April 14. DeLaTorre slammed a triple in the third to drive in

two runs for the Cubs. Hernandez had two hits, a run and an RBI. Joe

Hanson reached base twice, scored once and drove in a run. Spady

added to the offense, reaching in both at-bats and scored twice with

his aggressive running.

The Cubs also added quality pitching. Fackler had an impressive

game, striking out five in two strong innings of work. Stone faced

four batters in the last inning, striking out two. Also making

defensive plays were Ward, who caught a high pop fly, catcher Matt

Fewel and fielders Art Wisniewski, Chelsey Wyman and Hayden Swift.

* Braves 12, Dodgers 11:

The Braves beat the Dodgers April 13. The Dodgers rallied with

four runs in the final inning but fell short. Carlyle went 3 for 3

with three runs and two RBIs and Brust had two hits and scored two

runs for the Dodgers.

Colin Moran played in his first game for the Braves after

recovering from a broken thumb.

Contributing to the Braves offense were Ryan West, Brandon

Dieckhoff, Branden Arceyut, Matt Thomas and Moran.

Sean Golden, Lisa Hyndman, Cassie Stevenson and Charles Nelson had

good at-bats and alert baserunning. The Braves had quality pitching

by Thomas and West. Brad Wilson made a great stop at shortstop, got

the runner out at second base and threw to first base for what would

have been a double play had there not been three outs.

In Farm play:

* The Cubs battled the Braves in a tough game. Brad Ehrhorn hit a

double and a single and caught a fly ball for the Cubs.

Danielle Brodeur had a single and Brianna Frawley had a double,

while Emily Bolter and Noah Prevel each had singles.

Ben Blowers and Daniel Neff each turned double plays and Barrett

Kelly had a double and a single.

Morgan Miller had three hits and Brett Bermuda and Dillion Cassell

also contributed for the Cubs.

Harrison Stern and John Santoyo led the Padres’ offense with their

best hitting of the season in a game against the Reds April 24. Both

players collected three hits, including a double, and drove in a

combined four runs and scored a combined five.

It was an offensive explosion for the team, with each player

getting at least three hits.

In addition to Stern and Santoyo, Mitchell Clevidence (5 for 5

with five RBIs), Bill Crosson (4 for 5 with three runs), Tyler Owens

(4 for 5 with two runs), William Reed (4 for 5 with four RBIs), Ted

Zoerner (3 for 5 with two RBIs) and Christian Darrow (3 for 5 with

two runs) provided big hits and runs.

Dante Capoccia (three doubles) and Kohler Ponsford (four doubles)

continued to battle one another for the team leader in doubles.

In addition to the offense, Garrett Deutsch was a one-man

defensive stopper, recording six putouts (five unassisted), including

a line-drive double play and a fly ball in center field.

The Reds and Cubs had a competitive game on April 22. Kyle Kuttler

and Junior Ozuna each had his first big hit. Garrett Kahre had a

triple and an RBI. Garet Henscheid had two doubles and two singles

and five RBIs. Adam Ditt had two doubles, two singles and three RBIs.

Nikalas Arias had three singles and one RBI. Mason Tufuga had a

double and a single and three RBIs. Chad Crivello, Jackson Letterman

and Marco Perez each had singles.

Ryan Bonker led the way for the Padres against the Braves April

20. In his best offensive performance, Bonker reached safely in each

at-bat, including a double and several singles, while scoring three

runs. His offensive support included Capoccia (four doubles), Reed

(two doubles), Deutsch (two doubles), Santoyo (four hits), Darrow

(four hits) and Bill Crosson (four hits).

Owens, Clevidence, Harrison Stern and Zoerner provided defensive

support.

The Padres had 42 hits, including 14 extra-base hits, in their

game against the Reds April 8. Leading the charge was Owens, who had

six hits and drove in six runs. His offensive outburst included a

double and an inside-the-park home run.

The Padres had strength throughout the order provided by Reed (5

for 6 with four RBIs), Deutsch (5 for 6 with two doubles), Ponsford

(5 for 6 with seven RBIs and three doubles), Santoyo (4 for 6 with

three RBIs), Capoccia (6 for 6, with four doubles), Darrow (4 for 5

with two doubles), Zoerner (4 for 5) and Crosson (2 for 3 with a

double). Stern had a key hit in the second inning, knocking in two

runs.

In Tee Ball Minor play:

The Marlins took on the Diamondbacks in an exciting game April 24.

Jarod Adkins, Riley Lord, Christian Lux, Spencer Stern and Logan

Twardowski all made key contributions in the game.