CMALL Majors: Tigers win Round 1

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - In an era of baseballs flying out of ballparks in

rapid succession, the Tigers are following the big leaguers’ trend to the

letter.

The Tigers slammed three out of the park which proved to be the

difference in their 5-3 win over the Yankees in Game 1 of the Costa Mesa

American Little League Majors Division championships Tuesday at Costa

Mesa High.

Tiger hitters Jamie Tinnion and Andrew Sanford had solo shots, while R.J.

Duernberger clubbed a two-run clout, bringing the team total to 30

dingers in 27 games.

“Our big bats have been carrying us all season long,” Tigers’ Manager

Cliff Duernberger said. “Those guys can really swing the sticks.”

The win gives the Tigers (22-5), winners of 19 straight, a 1-0 lead in

the best-of-three series with the Yankees (21-6). Game 2 is set for

Thursday at Mesa.

“We started out a little slow because of some early missed practices due

to the rain,” Duernberger said. “After a while, the players started to

believe that we could compete and play well. Everything just came

together and we haven’t looked back ever since.”

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead. Tinnion reached on a

single to center and scored on Duernberger’s two-run shot, his fourth of

the season. Sanford followed with his 14th home run of the year.

The Yankees responded in the top of the second when Brandon Hoffman was

hit by a pitch and went to third on a single by Rickey Sepulveda. Hoffman

scored on a Tigers’ error, cutting the lead to, 3-1.

Four batters later, Skyler Cozan ripped a single to center, scoring

Sepulveda and cutting the lead to one.

The Yanks tied the game in the third when the Tigers’ defense, once

again, went to sleep. The Yanks’ Jordan Kalke came around to score, tying

the game at 3-3.

“Our defense was a little sloppy tonight,” Duernberger said. “Hopefully

we got that out of our system and we’ll be all right for Thursday.”

The Tigers took the lead for good on Tinnon’s blast over the left-field

wall in the third.

The younger Duernberger also was solid on the mound, pitching a

complete-game two-hitter, striking out nine.

Cozan was just as strong for the Yanks, going the distance, while giving

up six hits and four strikeouts.

“The Yankees really came to play today,” the elder Duernberger said. “I

wouldn’t be surprised to see this thing go all three games.”

The game turned a little scary in the sixth inning when Yankees’ catcher

Isaiah Werdel was accidentally kicked in the face by a Tiger runner

attempting to avoid the tag.

Werdel was removed from the game with a bloody nose, but later reported

he’d be all right for Thursday’s rematch.

The Tigers added an insurance run in the sixth when Sanford ripped an RBI

double to left, scoring Duernberger.