Dream teamers spark Nationals

COSTA MESA -- The Costa Mesa National Little League Major All-Star

team, which has won the Mayor’s Cup for the past four years, is in

search of a fifth title as it defeated the Costa Mesa American

All-Stars, 7-3, at Costa Mesa High School Thursday in the first game

of a best-of-three series.

The Nationals jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning

after pitcher A.J. Roth, who is a Daily Pilot Dream Team member,

reached first base on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and was

driven in by Victor Trujillo, another Dream Team member, who doubled

to right field.

The Americans quickly bounced back in the bottom of the first

after Dream Teamer P.J. Maloney hit a double and shortstop Brian

Waldron, with two outs and the count full, found an opening in

right-center field for an RBI double to tie it, 1-1.

In the second inning, Nationals leadoff batter Kannon Stone bunted

while Sho Wantanabe and Alex Kronfeldt walked to load the bases for

Kevin Karuajal, whose shot back to the box was too hot for the

pitcher to handle, as it went off Maloney’s glove, scoring Stone from

third and giving the Nationals a 2-1 edge.

A strikeout by Maloney and double play ended the inning.

In the top of the third with one out and Josh Hill on second base,

Roth doubled him home for a two-run lead.

A wild pickoff throw from the catcher to second base allowed Roth

to score, giving the Nationals a 4-1 lead.

Maloney, who was relieved in the fourth inning by Derek Amendola,

finished with three strikeouts.

In the top of the fifth, Roth, who was 2 for 2, hit a home run

into left field, which brought in leadoff batter Nathan Alvis, who

opened the inning with a walk.

Alvis and Nationals catcher Marcus Hayes were called up from the

Major Phillies, while Bryan Williams and Brandon Bonghanoy were

brought up to the American All-Stars from the Angels, and Brandon

Lewis was bumped up from the A’s.

With the Nationals ahead, 6-1, in the fifth inning, Williams and

Maloney singled. Garrett Hirsch was next in the lineup and promptly

wound up on second base after the Nationals committed two errors on

one play, scoring Maloney and Williams, bringing the Americans to

within three.

The Nationals sealed the victory in the sixth after Kronfeldt hit

a chopper to American third baseman Brandon Lewis, who fielded the

ball and threw from his knees, but Kronfeldt beat the throw and

brought in Wantanabe.

“Tonight was fun,” said Nationals Manager Kirk Stone. “We played

relaxed and took control. We earned our hits and we didn’t lose our

composure. We played good fundamental baseball.”

Roth, whose solid pitching led the Nationals effort, pitched six

innings with nine strikeouts, while Amendola struck out four in two

innings for the Americans.