NHBA All-Stars win title

DANA POINT — The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Mustang A team pulled off an exciting 6-3 victory over host Dana Point to win the Dana Point Summer Classic on June 28 at Del Obispo Park.

Dana Point jumped to a 2-0 lead early on, but NHBA starting pitcher Shane Mitchell battled fiercely for five innings.

It was not until the fourth inning that leadoff hitter Josh Lewis singled for NHBA Mustang A, which started a rally. Lewis advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, then Carson Poivre singled. With two outs, power hitter Teddy Stuka was walked loading the bases. This gave Jeremiah Sheldon the opportunity to drive a ball to the right center field gap, clearing the bases with Stuka scoring all the way from first.

Dana Point bats would not give up. If not for two crucial outfield catches on the run by David Fisher, and a double play by Dylan Kaplan at shortstop, Dana Point may have scored more runs in the third and fourth innings.

Colby Benter supplied solid support in the field as well.

What really put Dana Point on the ropes was a tremendous double play by Sheldon. He fielded a short hop at first base, touching it for the out and rifling the ball to Stuka behind the plate to tag the advancing runner from third base in the fifth inning. Sheldon had already connected with Stuka in the third inning to stop another run.

Tied 3-3 going into the sixth, the NHBA bats took control. Kaplan led off with an infield single to be advanced by Poivre on the fielder’s choice. Stuka, Sheldon and Coltrane Tait had hits to score two more runs, followed by Dillon Murphy’s fielder’s choice to score the sixth run.

This was enough for Newport Harbor closer Murphy to shut the door in the bottom of the six, forcing two groundouts and one strikeout to end the game and earn the championship.

The winning squad was coached by Scott Lewis, Matt Kaplan and Martin Stuka.

The NHBA Mustang A All-Stars have won two of the three tournaments they’ve entered over the past month, compiling an 11-3 record. They start district tournament play against Whittier Friday at 5 p.m. in Los Alamitos.

— From staff reports