Pirates move on to semis

HUNTINGTON BEACH ? The Costa Mesa National Little League Minor A Division Pirates used to ride Dante Capoccia’s shoulders.

Now, they have his back.

As has been the case the majority of the time with Capoccia on the mound this season, Pirates’ infielders went virtually untested the first three innings of Saturday’s District 62 Tournament of Champions quarterfinal against the Fountain Valley Angels at LeBard Park.

But when Angels’ hitters finally started connecting with Capoccia’s above-average fastball and slump-inducing circle changup, the Pirates’ glove men stepped up to help secure a 6-3 win.

The victory puts the Pirates into Monday’s 5:30 p.m. semifinal against a team from Huntington Valley Little League at LeBard Park.

Third baseman Chase Whittaker made two courageous tags to nail a pair of runners sliding into third, one of which was gunned down by catcher Kohl Ponsford while trying to advance on a wild pitch.

Second baseman Dylan Tyler showed good judgment by throwing to first for an out as runners advanced to second and third on a ground ball with one out in the sixth inning.

And shortstop Brad Ehrhorn pounced on a comebacker that glanced off Capoccia and threw to first just in time to record the game’s final out. Had Ehrhorn not been so aggressive on the ball that died in front of the second base bag, the would-be infield hit would have plated a run and pushed the potential tying run to third base.

“Our guys used to count on Dante to strike people out,” Pirates Manager Bee Jay Mazur said. “But now, they’re ready to make a play at all times.”

Capoccia, who fanned a season-high 15 in a three-hit shutout to wrap up the Costa Mesa National division championship series June 5, appeared as if he wouldn’t need any help at the outset Saturday.

Mixing his pitches, he struck out the side in the first and second innings and recorded the first two outs of the third by whiffing overmatched Angels.

He struck out four over the final three frames to finish with 12 strikeouts and wound up allowing just four hits. He walked three and hit two batters.

“Dante has been strong for us the entire year,” Mazur said. “We didn’t start him in the tournament opener [a 14-4 mercy-rule-shortened win over the Westminster Royals on Monday] because we thought we’d need him to beat this Fountain Valley team. This is the best team we’ve played all season.”

Fountain Valley defeated the Costa Mesa American Angels, 22-4, in its opener. Fountain Valley’s first four hitters were a combined eight for eight with eight RBIs in that victory.

The same four hitters were went two for nine against Capoccia, whose changeup sets him apart from most of his pitching peers.

“He has the best changeup I’ve ever seen for a 10-year-old,” Mazur said. “I love to watch him throw that pitch and see hitters just flail at it. The remarkable thing is, he consistently throws it for strikes.”

Capoccia said he began throwing the change last season. And though 10 of his strikeouts were finalized with the fastball, his ability to change speeds helped make his heater appear even more blazing to Angel hitters.

With Capoccia anchoring a pitching staff that includes Ponsford and Ehrhorn, the Pirates are 19-1 and have won, Mazur estimated, nine straight games.

But Capoccia didn’t mention pitching when asked about the secret to the Pirates’ success.

“We’re a good hitting team,” he said.

The Pirates had just five hits Saturday, but three of those came in a three-run first.

Trevor Ramey reached on an error to lead off the game and Tyler singled. One out later, Capoccia’s infield hit loaded the bases and Brian Robbs, who was three for three Monday, was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run.

Tyler scored on Whittaker’s fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop and Ehrhorn got the first of his two hits to make it 3-0.

Ehrhorn singled and scored in the fourth, and the Pirates added two valuable insurance runs in the sixth.

Capoccia walked and scored from first when Robbs’ drive to right was misplayed for a two-base error in the sixth. Robbs went to third when the relay throw to the plate got away for another error. He then scored on Whittaker’s RBI groundout.

Robbs singled in the third and is four for five in the TOC.