Angels win with steals

Rick Devereux

Costa Mesa American Little League Minor B Angels Coach Larry Dawson

is not one who follows the seventh commandment. In fact, he teaches

his players to routinely steal as often as possible.

The Angels had 17 stolen bases that helped lead to a 13-5,

first-round win over the Fountain Valley Mariners Wednesday at LeBard

Field in the District 62 Tournament of Champions. Costa Mesa plays

either Huntington Valley or Westminster Saturday at noon.

“Absolutely, our plan is to run and steal; that’s what we do,”

Dawson said. “It’s something that we have worked on from the very

beginning. That’s my style as a coach. That’s how we play.”

Costa Mesa had 10 stolen bases in a nine-run first inning, a

critical inning that not only lifted the spirits of the Angels but

also demoralized the Mariners.

Fountain Valley scored three runs in the top of the first inning

off four hits, but the fact the Angels came back impressed Dawson.

“The positive attitude our kids had when we got down three runs is

something I’d like our team to continue to show,” he said.

Lindsay Dawson slapped a single and stole second base, followed by

a perfect bunt down the third-base line by Daniel Salmon when the

Angels came up to bat in the first. Bronson Gilbert drew a walk to

load the bases for Anthony Dean, who walloped the ball to the

center-field fence with a three-run double.

Khorey Dawson drew a walk, stole second on a double steal that

plated Dean, and stole third. Chris Nieto walked and stole second.

The throw by Mariners’ catcher Monty Plattner was on target, but the

second baseman could not handle the ball, which rolled into center

field allowing Dawson and Nieto to score.

Mike Scheidt had an almost identical experience as Nieto when he

walked, stole second and scored on the throw by Plattner that was on

target but ended up in the outfield. Gabe Montemayor also drew a

walk, stole second and third and scored when the pitcher threw the

ball into the outfield trying to pick off Ryan Winkler stealing

second base. Winkler eventually scored when Adam Bernacchi was caught

stealing second.

The nine runs were more than enough support for Salmon, who struck

out 11 over five innings while allowing nine hits.

“No kid on my team pitches more than three innings, normally,”

Larry Dawson said. “[Salmon] was pitching well and I was trying to

get the most out of him that I could. He is a first-year player, a

great player and wonderful kid all the way around.”

The Angels scored four times in the second inning off two singles,

two walks and two hit batsmen. The Mariners’ Robert Smith belted a

two-run double to the right-center gap in the third inning.

Costa Mesa played solid defense throughout the game, shifting in

relation to the count and base-running situations, a strategy

somewhat advanced in the Minor B level.

“We run a lot more sophisticated plays than most teams,” Assistant

Coach Mike Gilbert said. “The human mind is very powerful. Even the

youngest kids can pick up a lot. What we try to do is take them well

beyond where we want them to be and then they end up where we want

them to be.”