Little League Baseball: Elliott tames Yankees

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - While many were expecting Oscar De La Hoya’s comeback

later Saturday evening, the Diamondbacks’ Austin Elliott provided some

knockout blows of his own for the afternoon crowd at TeWinkle

Intermediate School.

The Majors’ division pitcher threw a shutout as he went the full six

innings, struck out eight, scattered six and accounted for six more outs,

leading the Diamondbacks to a 4-0 victory over the Yankees, in a Costa

Mesa National League game.

“He pitched an awesome game,” Diamondbacks Coach Gary McClanahan said.

Jerry Dawson, the Yankees’ manager, also enjoyed Elliott’s performance

which included 72 pitches. He took pleasure in the clean game as well.

“We just didn’t hit the ball well as a team,” Dawson said. “But, it

was a pretty error-free game.”

Manager Bill Redding’s Diamondbacks gave the cushion Elliott needed by

gaining the 4-0 lead. Trevor McDonald and Brandon Maurer scored two runs

each to help in the win.

McDonald went 2 for 3, including a triple and Maurer also finished

with two hits.

Allan Kinkaide chipped in with a single and Andrew Ayala smacked a

double to add on to the Diamondbacks’ seven hits.

For the Yankees, Mike Armour pounded two hits, while Isaiah Werdel and

Mike Willson popped one hit each.

Werdel also made himself known on defense. When playing at shortstop,

he dropped to his knees and made like a football wide receiver when he

grabbed a blooper that sailed over his shoulders and into his glove.

“He made such a great play,” Dawson said. “But, the difference in the

game was they hit the ball and we didn’t.”