Mesa National misses chances

Bryce Alderton

In the top of the fourth inning and the Costa Mesa National Little

League 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars holding a 2-1 lead, Manager Kirk

Stone turned toward the Huntington Valley dugout, somewhat amazed.

It didn’t have to do with the game, but the mood surrounding the

field Thursday at LeBard Park for a second-round District 62

tournament clash.

“I looked over at [Huntington Valley Coach Rick Thompson] and

said, ‘You can hear a pin drop,’ ” Stone said.

The subdued aura, though, merely predicated Huntington Valley’s

three-run fifth inning that sent Costa Mesa to a 5-2 loss, its first

setback in the double-elimination tournament.

The relative calm could also be an adequate descriptor for Costa

Mesa’s offense, which had its chances, but couldn’t capitalize.

Mesa left seven men on base, six through the first three innings

and managed just two hits -- singles by Stephen Hildebrand and

Raymond Holmes -- against Huntington Valley starting pitcher John

Zappia, who received timely help from his defense en route to a

complete game.

“We played with [Huntington Valley] the whole way,” Stone said.

“[Huntington Valley] was a little more aggressive and cashed in on

their opportunities. Whenever you are in a close game like this,

everyone gets on their heels and is sometimes afraid not to make a

mistake. You lose a bit of aggressiveness that way.

“When you have the opportunity to make a play and don’t, All-Star

teams will make you pay.”

Huntington Valley did just that with two outs and runners at

second and third in the bottom of the fifth.

With the score tied, 2-2, Parris Haggerty connected for a two-run

double for the second of three consecutive hits. Haggerty then scored

on Derek Weiser’s RBI-single to center field.

Zappia retired Costa Mesa National (1-2) in order in the sixth,

sending Huntington Valley (2-0) to today’s 10 a.m. semifinals at

LeBard Park against Costa Mesa American, which defeated Costa Mesa

National Friday.

Costa Mesa National defeated Costa Mesa American, 5-3, July 1 to

begin the tournament, while Huntington Valley downed Seaview, 13-0,

in their tournament opener.

A Huntington Valley team claimed Tournament of Champions titles in

the Minor A, Minor B and Majors last month.

“We played with them the whole way,” Stone said.

Costa Mesa National took a 2-1 lead in the third when Raymond

Holmes’ two-out bloop single scored Brodie Henscheid, who reached on

a fielder’s choice. Holmes and Trey Le Ele advanced to second and

third, respectively, on a wild pitch, but Zappia fielded a comebacker

and tossed to first to end the threat.

The inning started well for National, which had runners at first

and second with no outs, but Huntington Valley center fielder Garrett

Thompson raced in to make a diving catch of a sinking drive off the

bat of Jake Knapp.

Hildebrand, who struck out five, walked one and allowed two runs

-- both unearned -- in four innings, singled in leadoff hitter Josh

Hill to give National a 1-0 lead in a first inning that appeared

promising.

A walk to Henscheid, the cleanup hitter, loaded the bases, but

Huntington Valley’s defense rose to the challenge. Second baseman

Kyle Johnson slid on one knee to catch a soft liner and doubled up

the runner at first. A groundout to third ended National’s inning.

National had first and second with no outs in the second following

a walk to Holmes and an error allowing Andres Hernandez to reach

base. But three straight grounders to third baseman Shane Spillman

resulted in three putouts to end the inning.

National also escaped unscathed in the third inning after

Huntington Valley loaded the bases with no outs.

But Hildebrand, who throws a fastball with four different grips,

and his defense steadied.

Hildebrand induced a forceout at home, caught a pop up near the

mound and struck out the next batter looking to end the inning and

preserve National’s 2-1 lead.

Sho Watanabe walked while Hernandez made a diving catch in left

field for the second out in the fifth, before the aforementioned hits

began.

“[Huntington Valley] smacked the ball in the fifth,” Stone said.

“Hitting is so contagious.”