Pony 14 All-Stars defeated

CYPRESS ? The Costa Mesa Pony 14-year-old All-Stars did not put out their Sunday best in an 11-1 loss to Saddleback Valley Blue in the first round of the District A Tournament on Sunday at Oak Knoll Park.

Costa Mesa managed just three hits.

Saddleback Valley Blue, on the other hand, pounded out 14 hits and scored in each of the last five innings to halt the game after six innings, one inning early due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Costa Mesa remains alive in the double-elimination tournament. It plays Friday at 5 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.

Costa Mesa had hits in each of the first three innings, then went hitless over the final three.

Despite not getting a hit, the squad picked up its lone run and had a chance for others, but simply couldn’t get them home.

Saddleback Valley went down in order in the first inning. It would not do so again.

Costa Mesa threatened in the first, as Cameron Brown singled to right and stole second.

Ryan Cherney followed with a two-out walk, but Saddleback worked out of the jam.

Saddleback used singles by Dusty Orrantia and Shane McCann to bring home Trevor Myers, who was hit by a pitch. A walk and another hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, but the next hitter struck out to prevent further damage.

Austin Quon’s leadoff single and a two-out walk to Ryan Burns gave Costa Mesa another threat in the second. But the inning ended on a strikeout.

Saddleback opened a five-run third with an inside-the-park homer by Garrett Donohoe.

Costa Mesa again put two runners aboard in the third, courtesy of a Ryan Bulger single and Cherney walk. But both were left holding the bag when a strikeout ended the threat.

Saddleback extended its lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning, before Costa Mesa got on the board in the bottom of the frame.

Jesse Fox was hit by a pitch to get things started for Costa Mesa.

He stole two bases before Daniel Derieg’s walk put runners at the corners. With one out, Miller’s groundout to shortstop drove in Fox.

Saddleback Valley added three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to extend the lead to 11-1.

Costa Mesa tried to avoid the 10-run mercy rule in the sixth.

Quon, who reached on an error, stole second and Derieg walked with two outs.