Time for a little fun

Mike Sciacca, Independent

The youngsters of spring and summer are back on a ball field near you.

The 2002 Little League season is in its infant stage but already the

action is heating up in Huntington Beach as the races for first half

championships in Majors Division, Minor A and Minor B divisions are

underway at Huntington Valley, Ocean View, Robinwood and Seaview Little

Leagues.

Two banners fly high at Huntington Valley Little League, which is home

to the reigning District 62 Tournament of Champions tournament winners in

both the Minor A and Minor B divisions. In addition the league’s 9/10

Division All-Star team, last summer, won the District 62 title, won a

Section 5 championship and advanced to the State championship tournament

in San Bernardino.

The state championship appearance marked the furthest that any team

had advanced in postseason play in the history of Huntington Valley

Little League.

“We had a really successful summer last year and we’re excited about

this new season,” said Huntington Valley Little League President Renee

Aumiller, who noted that the number of youngsters playing in the league

continues to be on the rise. “I think we have a great group of kids

signed up to play this year and we again have some strong teams.

Huntington Beach is a strong area when it comes to Little League

Baseball.”

The 2002 District 62 Tournament of Champions begins in June. The

tournament annually pits the first and second place teams from Huntington

Valley, Ocean View, Robinwood, Seaview, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa

American, Costa Mesa National and Westminster Little Leagues in a double

elimination tournament.

The District 62 All-Star Tournament of Champions, featuring the

All-Star teams from the same leagues, will follow its sister tournament.

In Little League action during the past week:

HUNTINGTON VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE

MAJORS DIVISION

Mariners 8, Mets 6

Luke Patrick smashed a two-run home run following Justin Draeger’s

double. Draeger recorded five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings to lead the

Mariners. Nick Mazzone doubled twice and Tim Higgins and Josh Reisinger

each doubled for the Mets.

A’s 4, Angels 1

Danny Watt, Paul McBeth and Drew Duffy each delivered doubles for the

A’s and pitchers Alex Barnes and Race Parmenter limited the Angels to a

single run. Michael Chairez singled and Derris Douty scored for the

Angels.

White Sox 10, Rangers 3

Sean King doubled and singled for the White Sox; Brian Gianone tripled

and Trevor Briggs doubled for the Rangers.

Angels 19, Rangers 0

The A’s put on a first inning hitting clinic by scoring 14 runs on 11

hits. Daniel Watt and Chris Ottens each doubled among three hits, Alex

Barnes had three hits, Cody Moran, Chas Boule and Mike McDougal had two

hits apiece, Race Parmenter doubled and combined with Watts for the

pitching shutout. Brayden Kent doubled for the Rangers.

Mets 8, Diamondbacks 5

Nick Mazzone had two hits including a double and two RBI and Dave

Folger tripled and Fred Thomas doubled for the Mets; Clayton Prestridge

had two hits and Kord Weber doubled for the Diamondbacks.

White Sox 2, Angels 0

Michael Bogard doubled among two hits, Justin Thompson and Chris

Kindness singled and Bogard and Thompson combined for the shutout to lead

the White Sox. For the Angels, Erik Morentin doubled, Michael Chairez and

Tim Doupe singled and Doupe and Derris Douty limited the White Sox to

only four hits.

OCEAN VIEW LITTLE LEAGUE

MAJORS DIVISION

Astros 3, Diamondbacks 0

Chris Nowlin and Jordan Maddox combined on to shut out the Astros.

A’s 5, Mariners 2

Dalton Hinz tripled among two hits and Scott Kelly, Randy Guite and

Dalton Hinz pitched a strong game to lead the A’s.

MINOR A DIVISION

Rockies 9, Mariners 3

Matt Sluman and Mark Saar each had two hits for the Rockies.

Other scores:

A’s 6, Dodgers 2

Padres 10, Angels 7

Giants 4, Rangers 0

Rockies 9, Mariners 3

MINOR B DIVISION

Cardinals 10, A’s 2

Johnathan Lancaster went three for three, Travis Pugh pitched three

strong innings and Robert Fogerty played a strong game defensively to

lead the Cardinals.

SEAVIEW LITTLE LEAGUE

MINOR B DIVISION

Yankees 13, Dodgers 6

James Butts’ complete-game victory for the Yankees included 14

strikeouts. Christian Miller and Kyle Chen each had two hits and a walk,

Steven Malone had a pair of singles, Ryan Walker doubled, Ryan Ortolf and

Tyler Fields each drew three walks and Brenton Visnoski had a hit and two

walks, continuing his perfect on-base percentage in three consecutive

games to start the new season.

Troy Baulue and Nathan Shaw each doubled and singled to lead the

Dodgers.

* MIKE SCIACCA is the education and sports reporter. He can be reached

at (714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].