Cubs grab wild win for title
CORONA DEL MAR — Bart Thomsen had just coached his seventh straight Newport Beach Little League team in a championship game.
What was the American League Yankees coach doing when he gave the opposing pitcher a high-five?
Congratulating National League Cubs starter Jack Harris for containing his Yankees and helping the Cubs win, 9-3, for the Majors Division title Saturday at Lincoln Elementary.
After crediting Harris for his 4 2/3 innings and the Cubs (16-5), Thomsen was reminded of his seven-year run. He laughed about it.
“I don’t know if that’s a record here,” Thomsen said. “I don’t know who would be old enough [to know] and would’ve coached that many seasons to have this much grey hair.”
The grey was definitely showing in the bottom of the fifth with his Yankees (13-7) in trouble. Thomsen figured he was in a battle with Cubs Coach John DiGiovanni and getting his second title would prove difficult.
The score was tied, 3-3, making for another close championship between the two coaches. The two met last year for the crown. Sure it was in a division lower, Triple A, but it was just as intense as Saturday’s game.
Last year’s finish saw Thomsen’s Padres rally for two runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat DiGiovanni’s Yankees.
This time the wild finish came from the wild pitch.
Three of the first four runs scored in the Cubs’ six-run fifth were a result of wild pitches. Timely hitting also did in the Yankees.
Andrew Minkus, with the bases loaded, slapped one up the middle, driving in one run and putting the Cubs up, 4-3, after the Yankees scored three runs in the top of the inning to tie the game.
The Yankees lost any of momentum if achieved when Harris left in the fifth. The right-hander struck out seven before reliever Rob Rosenest stepped in. Rosenest was just as effective.
“He’s an amazing kid,” Harris said. “He never gets mad at anybody. He’s just a great kid to be around.”
Especially after Rosenest got out of a base loaded jam by fanning a batter. What followed next was what DiGiovanni expected.
“They’ve been a fighting team all the way,” he said. “They’ve been down so many times and fought back to win. In order to get here they beat the first-place team in both leagues, and then came back from the loser’s bracket to get to the championship.”
Once the Cubs made it, they made sure to win it for DiGiovanni. Both teams qualified for the District 55 Tournament of Champions tournament. Before looking forward, Harris looked thrilled, except when comparing the top prize to runner-up.
“It feels great,” he said, “even though the trophies look the same and everything.”
Thomsen would know.
“It’s really not important whether you win the game,” said Thomsen, laughing. “You know, really nobody is counting [my titles]. I’ve just won one.”
DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.
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