One Major mismatch

HUNTINGTON BEACH — As per Little League tradition, players and coaches for the Costa Mesa American Major Division All-Stars exchanged league pins with their counterparts from Ocean View Little League before Saturday’s game.

But, after the way the District 62 first-round contest went — a 22-0 victory and a four-inning no-hitter for Ocean View pitcher Grant Mayeaux — the Costa Mesa contingent might have been better served to ask for autographs.

Ocean View, after all, is led by the same nucleus of players that helped it win district, section and division titles as 10-year-olds two years ago. That’s the equivalent of the state championship, the ultimate title available at that level.

Ocean View again won the District 62 title as 11-year-olds last year and came into this postseason with a 20-3 record in all-star competition.

So, Costa Mesa, which chooses its All-Stars from two teams, as opposed to eight that make up the talent pool for the Ocean View squad, knew full well what it was in for Saturday, a game called prematurely due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“That’s why I took out my starting pitcher [Josh Ring] after 20 pitches,” Costa Mesa American Manager Jared Johnson said. “So I could use him [today].”

Costa Mesa American will try to extend its run in the double-elimination tournament today at noon against Huntington Valley. The game will be played at the same venue: Robinwood Little League fields, behind Marina High.

“I tried not to think about the fact that they had won a state title,” said Costa Mesa American shortstop Jack Holm, who came closest to a hit for the designated home team.

Holm opened the fourth with a line drive to the left of the shortstop, who stabbed it for an out. Jack Bunker and Ring followed with fly balls to center field. The three outs in the fourth were the only three balls put in play by Costa Mesa, which struck out eight times against Mayeaux.

Mayeaux, a hard-throwing right-hander who mixed in breaking balls that thoroughly stumped Costa Mesa hitters, faced one more than the minimum. He hit two batters, one of which was picked off first base.

Ocean View hitters, meanwhile, belted four home runs and added three doubles to a 15-hit onslaught.

Costa Mesa hindered its cause by committing five errors that led to six unearned runs. In addition, the hosts issued five walks and hit one batter.

Zachary Gates followed back-to-back doubles with a two-run homer to open the game for Ocean View, which scored five in the first inning, four in the second, nine in the third and four in the fourth.

It was the eighth home run of the season for Gates, who was removed after two innings, when Ocean View began putting in its four substitutes.

“We got our big four out of there,” Ocean View Manager Gordon Gates said.

In addition to Zachary Gates, the starting first baseman, shortstop Jake Arledge, catcher Jake Bauers and right fielder Casey Hayes, who hit first, second and cleanup, respectively, were benched in favor of early substitutions.

But Ocean View still had no shortage of heroes.

Left fielder Jake Schulze hit his first home run of the season for the winners, a grand slam in the fourth.

Second baseman Jake Rubino, batting ninth, hit a two-run homer in the third, only his second of the season.

Max Gibbs rounded out the home run parade with a three-run shot in the second.

Costa Mesa center fielder Aaron Axtell ranged to his right to catch a fly ball in the fourth inning and Holm ranged to his left to haul in a grounder up the middle, then stepped on second for a force out for another solid defensive play.

Otherwise, highlights were hard to come by for Costa Mesa, which has seven consecutive batters retired on strikeouts, three looking, by Mayeaux.

It was the first no-hitter of the season for Mayeaux, said his manager, who noted the team has been having daily four-hour practices the last two weeks.

When asked about aspirations for Williamsport, Pa., the site of the Little League World Series, Gordon Gates smiled broadly an said, “Everybody has their dreams.”

Rounding out the Costa Mesa roster were, Cody Hanify, Austin Beck, Idren Luna, Connor Howard, Max Heilig, Tory Hartshorn, Dirk Hill and Jesse Alba.

Assisting Johnson is Coach Brad Holm.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].