Dodgers’ ouster a close call

Rick Devereux

One close play seemed to be the deciding factor in the Costa Mesa

National Little League Dodgers’ 6-1 loss to the Seaview Giants

Saturday in the Minor B quarterfinals of the District 62 Tournament

of Champions at Wardlow Park.

With two outs in the top of the third inning and a runner on third

base, a pitch slipped through to the backstop and squirted up the

first-base line.

Giants’ right fielder Jason McLellan, who was the runner on third,

sprinted for home plate.

Dodger catcher Davis Fassett recovered the ball and dashed for

home.

The two met almost simultaneously at the plate, with McLellan

sliding feet first and Fassett leaning down to apply a tag.

McLellan was ruled safe.

“I think our kids got a little emotional after that play,” Dodgers

Manager Tim Deutsch said. “The Giants rallied. They got excited

because they scored the first run of the game. Up to that point, it

was a pitchers duel.”

Indeed, Dodger pitcher Tyler Owen had allowed two hits with four

strikeouts and Giant hurler Devon Reese had yielded one hit with two

strikeouts up until the close play at the plate.

The Giants used the energy from McLellan’s score to plate three

more in that inning. Christian Shaffer walked and Taylor Kane was

safe at first on a fielding error before Mark Clifford hit a double

down the right-field line. Nick Marnocha hit a two-run double to

left-center before the rally ended on a pop to Fassett.

The Dodgers had a chance to get some runs back in the bottom of

the inning with runners on first and second with one out. But Kane

induced an infield pop-up and a groundout to end the threat.

The Giants applied pressure again in the fourth, when their first

three hitters reached base. A throwing error led to one run and

Reese’s one-out ground ball to second base allowed Shane Heath to

score.

Dante Capoccia led off the Dodgers’ half of the inning with a

single to center field. He advanced to third on Bill Crosson’s single

to right and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Brandon Arceyut and Estefany Ramirez walked to load the bases with

one out. Fassett blooped a ball to shallow center that looked like it

would drop for a hit and plate at least one run. But center fielder

Shaffer ran in to make a diving catch and threw to second base to

double off the runner and end the inning.

“If that ball goes through, it’s a whole new ballgame,” Deutsch

said. “But I give credit to the Giants. Their defense was phenomenal

throughout the game.”

Capoccia, who pitched the final three innings for the Dodgers,

retired the last eight batters he faced, four on strikeouts.

“We had a great season,” Deutsch told his players after the game.

“You should all keep your heads held high because you all played hard

the entire game.”

He said he was especially pleased with the defense, particularly

Fassett’s performance behind the plate.

The Dodgers (18-4) advanced to the quarterfinals by beating the

Westminster Red Sox, 9-8, Wednesday on a game-winning double by

Alexis Charez. Other contributors for the Dodgers this season

included Garrett Deutsch, Erik Rasmussen, Josh Godwin, John Santoyo

and Nick Halloran.