Carvajal steps up, keys win

COSTA MESA ? Chris Molina of the Costa Mesa National Little League Majors Division All-Stars was his team’s scheduled pitcher in game one of the Mayor’s Cup, but he had a doctor’s appointment on Saturday morning.

After undergoing multiple tetanus shots on his left arm, he arrived at Costa Mesa High just 15 minutes before game time. Manager Greg Pearce then elected to go with Kevin Carvajal on the mound instead.

Carvajal, in turn, made Costa Mesa American Little League feel the pain, throwing a complete-game shutout in Costa Mesa National’s 4-0 victory.

Game two of the annual best-of three series between Costa Mesa leagues, will be Monday night at 5:30 at TeWinkle Middle School. Game three, if necessary, will be Tuesday night at 5:30 back at Costa Mesa High.

“[Carvajal] stepped up on short notice and really pitched a great game,” Pearce said. “He wasn’t blowing anybody away with fastballs, he just kept them off-balance with his curveballs. And we played great defense behind him.”

The offense wasn’t bad, either. Costa Mesa National’s Gramm Sedano had a home run and a double with two runs scored, while Stephen Hildebrand and Hans Anderle both scored runs in a three-run sixth inning.

Costa Mesa American had seven hits of its own, and threatened early. Tyler Taormina, Martin Myszynski and Tyler Sheffner all had first-inning singles. But on Sheffner’s hit, a runner was caught between second and third base for the third out.

Similarly, in the bottom of the third, Costa Mesa American’s Logan Benter led off with a single. But on a one-out grounder to third, another runner was picked off between second and third for another “free” out for Costa Mesa National.

“Bad baserunning cost us a couple of runs, but they had a couple of really nice defensive plays,” Costa Mesa American Manager John McLuckey said.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth, a pitching battle between Carvajal and Sheffner.

Sedano, however, changed that with one swing of the bat. After just missing an extra-base hit down the third-base line three pitches earlier, he cranked a fastball over the left-field fence to give Costa Mesa National a 1-0 lead.

“He was throwing a lot of strikes and good pitches,” Sedano said. “I was just looking for my pitch, and I got it.”

Costa Mesa National added some insurance runs in the sixth. Sedano and Hildebrand led off with back-to-back doubles to left to produce a run. Molina then grounded out to second, but the Costa Mesa American first baseman threw back to second base in an attempt to pick Hildebrand off.

The throw went into center field, allowing Hildebrand to score and making the score 3-0, Costa Mesa National.

The visitors tacked on another run when Alex Trancoso’s single to left brought home Anderle.

Costa Mesa American tried to rally in its final at-bat in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Tom Werdel hit a deep fly ball to center. But Hildebrand turned his body, reached over the center-field wall and back-handed the ball, turning a home run into the second out.

“I didn’t think it was it going to be out, but I just kept my eye on it,” Hildebrand said. “The fence just came out of nowhere and then I ran into it. But I still made the catch, luckily.”

McLuckey was less enthusiastic about the play.

“That was over the fence,” he said. “That’s just a rally killer.”

Hildebrand also caught a line drive for the final out of the game.

Trancoso was two for three for Costa Mesa National, and Andres Hernandez also had a hit.

For Costa Mesa American, Austin McArdle, Sheffner, Taormina, Myszynski, Werdel, Benter and Nick Dawson had one hit apiece.

Costa Mesa American shortstop J.T. McLuckey made a nice play in the fifth inning, diving to his right to field a ground ball, then throwing to third for a forceout.

Costa Mesa National played with no substitutes due to some players being on vacation, but Pearce said he should have 11 or 12 players by Monday.

“I didn’t really expect to win game one,” Pearce said. “This is a gift for us. I respect their team very much and didn’t expect to shut them out like that.”

And, after the Costa Mesa National Majors team went two-and-out in District 62 All-Star competition, the win in the rivalry series was a welcome change.

The Costa Mesa American Majors squad went 2-2.

“After our performance in all-stars, this felt really good,” Pearce said with a laugh.