Beautiful day for CMNLL

COSTA MESA — Costa Mesa National Little League Manager Mike McClanahan shouted as he delivered his final post-game message to his Majors Division All-Stars.

He had to raise his voice with some of the greatest hits of U2 blaring from the speakers Saturday at Costa Mesa High. He passed out home-run balls to Brad Ehrhorn, Elijah Reiland and Cole Norris. The trio helped the CMNLL All-Stars to be able to say, “It’s a beautiful day.”

For the fourth straight year, Costa Mesa National captured the Mayor’s Cup, as it won the trophy with a 6-0 victory over Costa Mesa American. It was the 10th time the CMNLL All-Stars took home the Mayor’s Cup since 1997.

Norris produced his first perfect game in a 4-0 win Thursday. Some more sound pitching was on display Saturday. But it lasted four innings for CMALL.

In the fifth inning, the Costa Mesa National All-Stars didn’t listen to Bono’s words from another U2 hit. They found exactly what they were looking for, scoring four runs.

Norris, Connor Brown and Ehrhorn delivered some of the CMNLL All-Stars’ greatest hits.

Reiland reached base after being hit by a pitch to open the inning. Norris collected Costa Mesa National’s first hit with his RBI double to right. He made it to third because of an error after nearly getting caught in a rundown.

Bradley O’Heany reached on a walk and stole second. Brown then singled to right-center field to score Norris. Brown later tried to steal second, but got caught. However the throw to second allowed O’Heany to come across.

Ehrhorn kept it going with a home run over the fence in center field. Costa Mesa American had to change pitchers. But it appeared Costa Mesa National still had the momentum.

Reiland and Norris hit back-to-back home runs to open the sixth inning.

A double and a home run capped a stellar week for Norris. His double sparked Costa Mesa National in the fifth. His home run in the sixth was like an exclamation point.

He had been receiving congratulations from the community after his performance Thursday. Word of his perfect game spread around town quickly.

Norris said several people called or sent text messages of congratulations to Norris’ mother and father. Members of Norris’ regular-season team sent him a copy of the newspaper that had his story in it with a letter attached that said, “Congratulations.”

Saturday it was Reiland’s turn to sparkle on the mound.

Costa Mesa American just couldn’t get its offense on track. That was mainly because of Reiland, who was remarkable in his 51/3 innings of work. The right-hander struck out 14 and allowed only two hits. He walked two, the latter his final pitch, as Ehrhorn took over to complete the shutout with two strikeouts.

Daniel Morales was the only one to hit for CMALL. He went two for two with a double.

Pitcher Evan Larsen had a perfect game through four innings. He recorded nine strikeouts.

“It took us a long time to get on the board,” McClanahan said. “Their pitcher Evan Larsen pitched a really good game.”