Fence-clearing frenzy

DANA POINT — Perhaps it is no surprise that a kid named Carpenter knows how to hammer, even when a baseball is the nail and a bat the implement of impact.

Matt Carpenter nailed three home runs in three at-bats and drove in five runs to lead the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Pony Division 14-year-old All-Stars to a mercy-rule-shortened 13-3 triumph over Saddleback Valley in the semifinals of the Dana Point Summer Classic Saturday at Del Obispo Park.

The locals, who have outscored opponents, 52-9, in four tournament wins, including a 26-1 trouncing of Fountain Valley, will face Placentia in today’s 10 a.m. title game. Newport Harbor defeated Placentia, 7-4, Monday in round-robin play.

Carpenter’s three dingers actually extended his fence-clearing frenzy to four big flies in four at-bats, dating back to his final at-bat of the team’s previous tournament game, NHBA Manager Jim Lawson said.

Carpenter’s postgame comments were about as succinct as his swing, as the 13-year-old first baseman shrugged and giggled more than bragged.

“They were all fastballs,” Carpenter finally volunteered, after nodding affirmatively when asked if this was the first three-homer game of his baseball career.

There was plenty to brag about for the winners, who bashed six home runs in the cozy confines of one of three fields wedged into the park layout upon which pitchers might have negotiated for just two.

And while Carpenter took advantage of the 236-foot alley in left-center field, his launch sequence also targeted right-center and straight-away center, producing a hitting chart that featured a prolific pitchfork design that should scare future foes.

Carpenter’s first round-tripper was the fourth of six straight hits to open the bottom of the first inning, as Newport Harbor assumed a 5-0 lead after one inning.

Carpenter’s two-run blast in the third triggered another five-run frame, which included a three-run tater by A.J. Sweis.

Carpenter’s third long ball was the second of back-to-back-to-back jacks that began with Andrew McCormack lining the ball over the fence in left and ended with Aaron White bonking one off the scoreboard beyond the barrier in left-center.

Nine different Newport Harbor players contributed to the 15-hit attack. McCormack was three for three with two RBIs and two runs, White was two for two with one RBI and three runs and Brett Parker, who also pitched the first three innings, fanning five and allowing just one earned run, was two for three with two runs and a stolen base.

Leadoff man Chase Favreau was two for three and scored once, while Sweis finished one for two with four RBIs.

Brent Lawson, Billy Macdonald and Cole Blower added one hit apiece for the winners, who finished out the mercy-rule verdict with the help of two relievers and some sterling defense by McCormack at shortstop.

Tyler Kiehnle struck out the side while allowing a run in the fourth (Saddleback Valley’s only homer) and Sweis rung up the ninth strikeout victim of the day for Saddleback Valley in a scoreless fifth, prompting the 10-run mercy rule to take effect and end the contest.

McCormack, who ranged to his left to spear a line drive for the first out of the game, made an even better play to produce the game’s final out. With runners at second and third, Saddleback Valley’s Brandon Muse smacked a ground ball up the middle that appeared to be bound for center field. But McCormack dived to his left to smother the ball, rose to his feet and threw accurately to Carpenter to end the threat and protect the 10-run cushion.

McCormack and Carpenter were also involved in ruining an intended double-steal with two outs in the third. Carpenter took McCormack’s throw that chased a runner back toward first and fired to catcher White, who tagged out the runner trying to score from third on the play.

Today’s game will be the end of the postseason for the Newport Harbor juggernaut that consists of six players from the Corona del Mar Pony League and five from Newport Harbor. The locals elected not to go the District Tournament, due to numerous obligations the players have preparing to compete next year in high school, Lawson said.

“[Today] will be the last time a lot of these kids play together, before they head off to high school,” Jim Lawson said.

Lawson said Carpenter, Parker, White, Sweis, Kiehnle and Blower are bound for Newport Harbor High.

Lawson, McCormack, Macdonald and Ryan Banning are future Sea Kings at CdM, while Favreau is bound for Mater Dei, where he plans to play quarterback on the freshman football team.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.