Reds rally to title game

Michael Borchard knocked in Nick Tripi in the bottom of the sixth

inning with the game-winning run for the Reds, who overcame a

three-run deficit to defeat the Mariners, 4-3, to win the Newport

Beach Little League Majors American League crown.

The Reds face the Angels in the Majors championship game at 5 p.m.

today at Lincoln Elementary School in Corona del Mar.

With the game tied, 3-3, Tripi led off the sixth with a walk and

advanced to second on a passed ball. Sean Tokuyama walked, setting

the stage for Borchard.

The Mariners jumped to a 3-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings.

Connor Gaal scored on a squeeze play and Michael Haeri then scored

on an error.

Chris Freeman doubled in John Doering, who had reached on a

single.

Allen Brown started the Reds’ comeback in the bottom of the third

with a single to center and Chris Alvarez followed with a double to

left-center field.

With runners in scoring position and two outs, Dave Moore tripled

down the right- field line to score both runners.

Tokuyama then followed with an infield hit to score Moore and tie

the game, 3-3. Tokuyama held the Mariners, who had the Reds on the

brink of elimination earlier in the playoffs, scoreless in the final

three innings en route to a complete game.

The Reds’ defense was led by Borchard, Mattias Russo Larsson, Jack

Schloemer and Brennan Anderson.

Doering and J. D. Abbott each pitched well for the Mariners in the

loss.

In earlier playoff action:

* Reds 1, Yankees 0:

Tokoyama belted a solo shot over the center-field fence and added

five shutout innings on the mound to lead the Reds.

Borchard pitched the sixth to complete the shutout.

Borchard and Joey Booth anchored the Reds’ defense while Eric

Morris pitched well for the Yankees and received strong defensive

support from Chip Zucker, Peter Markel and Nico Napolitano, who all

made run-saving catches in the outfield.

* Reds 5, Mariners 1:

Borchard struck out seven, walked none and went 2 for 2 at the

plate to lead the Reds, who faced elimination.

Joey Booth’s bases-loaded double -- one of two doubles in the game

-- brought in two runs to give the Reds the lead in the third.

Russo Larsson also doubled to plate two more runs for the Reds.

The Mariners scored in the first when Freeman singled and later

scored on an Abbott hit.

Parker Werline made several strong plays at shortstop to lead the

Mariners.

In Double-A action:

* Red Sox 9, Padres 5:

Brian Wagner’s four RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple, led the

Red Sox in their playoff victory. The triple broke a 5-5 tie.

Paddy Conroy tallied three RBIs and added two innings on the

mound.

Luke Napolitano struck out eight in three innings.

Tyler McPhillips and Kyle Turle each hit well for the Padres.