Local squad captures title in San Diego

An undefeated run over a three-day period by the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club boys’ Under-10 team ended with a divisional championship at the San Diego County Cup.

Huntington went 6-0 at the tournament, which started Friday and concluded Sunday. It scored wins over Commerce (8-1), Foothill (7-2), SoCal (9-2), 680 Divers of Northern California (5-0), Laguna Beach (3-1), and in the title game secured a 5-3 overtime win over 680 Divers.

The boys’ U10 team, which has won three tournament titles this season, is: Jacob Pyle, Ethan Bettino, Josh Bowman, Dane Howell, Garrett Lee, Randal Macias, James Rozolis-Hill, DJ Simpson, Myles Simpson, Charles Slutsky and Brennis Lidecis. The team is coached by Djoko Radunovic.

Huntington next will compete June 8-10 at the Southern California Junior Olympics Qualifications tournament.

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Fountain Valley Little LeagueMajors Division

Twins 10, Crimson Tide 0: Jake Bitzer threw a no-hitter and the Fountain Valley Twins erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a tight game against the Costa Mesa National Crimson Tide that eventually was called by the mercy rule at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

Bitzer walked one and struck out seven and ignited the Twins’ offense in the bottom of the fourth by hitting a home run over the left-field fence. Twins catcher Luke Arnold drove the next pitch over the fence in left-center field. Luke Bundesen singled and scored on a double by Pablo Crespo. Trenton Ching singled in Crespo and Grant Mixer doubled to drive in Ching. Jacob Richard, Garret Poe and Chanson Ching walked and Luke Wells doubled to drive in two more runs. Bitzer tripled down the left-field line and drove in Wells, and Arnold drove in Bitzer to complete the scoring.

White Sox 6, Twins 2: Joe Stukkie hit a two-run home run and also recorded the pitching win as the Cosa Mesa American White Sox avenged two earlier losses to Fountain Valley by knocking off the Twins at Costa Mesa High.

The Twins scored their two runs in the second inning when Luke Bundesen, Pablo Crespo and Luke Logan singled, Garrett Poe was hit by a pitch and Trenton Ching singled to drive in two runs. The Sox answered with three runs to take the lead for good in bottom of the second on Stukkie’s two-run homer and an RBI single by George Williamson.

— Steve Motske

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Ocean View Little LeagueMinor A Division

Mud Hens 7, Storm Chasers 2: The Mud Hens scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning and went on to defeat the Storm Chasers on Saturday.

An RBI triple by Jag Burden gave the Mud Hens a run in the top of the first but the Storm Chasers scored twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, Zack Pratte, Nate Skorheim, Paul Crocker, Bruno Stenzel (RBI), Reilly Kells and Kyle Roeder (RBI) all singled, and Thomas Williams doubled to put the Mud Hens ahead, 5-2.

Burden, Nick Skorheim, Chance DiMarco and Williams took turns on the mound for the Mud Hens.

River Cats 11, Iron Pigs 7: Chris Soto had two doubles and racked up four RBIs as the River Cats overcame a 2-0, first-inning deficit to knock off the Iron Pigs.

The Iron Pigs took their 2-0 in the top of the first when Dylan Rodden doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Joey Legg, and Sean Yackley doubled to score Ryan Navarro, who had singled. The River Cats responded by scoring five times in the bottom of the inning on singles by Dominic Ventimiglia and Paul Wagner, and a three-run double by Soto.

After the Iron Pigs tied the score in the third, the River Cats posted three more runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Soto and an RBI single by Samuel Myers. They scored two more times in the fifth on an RBI single by Micah Blake and an RBI ground out by Vincent Caiazzo.

Muck Dogs 5, Mud Hens 2: The Muck Dogs broke away from a fourth-inning tie and went on to put an end to the Mud Hens’ three-game win streak. Singles by Jag Burden, Nick Skorheim and Kyle Roeder led to the Mud Hens’ first run, and Burden had an RBI in the fourth.

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Minor B Division

Mets 11, Thunder 5: The Mets scored nine runs over the first three innings to build an early lead and went on to defeat the Thunder. Antonio Ventimiglia had an RBI double and RBI single, Jack Jernigan added a two-run single and Joey Gentilella and Blake Ruitenschild each had RBI singles for the Mets.

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Minor C Division

Bees vs. Owls (no score kept): The battle between the Owls and Bees saw two teams making fine plays, pitching well and displaying great sportsmanship.

For the Owls, Andrew Bentley and Drew Bjork hit and pitched well, holding the powerful Bees lineup to only a few hits.

For the Bees, Matt Severin continued his hot hitting and Jack Feria made an impressive pitching debut, striking out one.

— Kevin Carlin