Mesa Americans no match for Huntington

Natalie Venegas

The Costa Mesa American Little League Major All-Star team fell, 7-0,

to Huntington Valley Wednesday at Wardlow Park.

Costa Mesa American will face the Costa Mesa National All-Stars at

5 p.m. Friday, with the winner advancing to square off against

defending district champion and host Huntington Valley Little League

again for a spot in the District 62 championship.

Mesa started the game with a solid pitching effort from Derek

Amendoca, who had four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

In the second and third inning, Amendoca allowed only three

batters up, and in the sixth and fourth inning, he and Mesa’s defense

held the Huntington Valley lineup to only four batters.

In the top of the fourth in a scoreless game, Huntington Valley’s

Josh Huffstetler broke through Mesa’s defensive effort with a double,

and scored on a home run by Dalton Douty, who has six home runs this

season, giving Huntington a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, with two outs, Huntington Valley’s Tylor

Kerns reached base on a Costa Mesa error, and advanced to second on a

wild pitch.

Drake Vanderpool sparked a hitting spree for Huntington Valley

after hitting a grounder past shortstop for an RBI double, bringing

Huntington up, 3-0.

Huffstetler followed with a line-drive double into right field,

scoring Vanderpool and giving Huntington a four-run lead.

The offensive effort continued with a two-run home run by Jake

Ponter, increased Huntington Valley’s lead 6-0.

“This is a really strong team,” said Huntington Valley Manager

Dennis Delaney, who is a Costa Mesa High graduate and former Mustang

Athlete of the Year. “Our hitting and pitching was really good

today.”

In the bottom of the fifth, Costa Mesa American’s Martin Myzinski

came off the bench and hit a ground single to center field in his

first at-bat. Myzinski then advanced to second base on a passed ball.

Garrett Hirsch, Costa Mesa American’s No. 2 hitter, doubled to

center field, but Huntington Valley center fielder Sam Hunt came up

with the ball and fired a strike to catcher Dane Delaney, who tagged

out Myzinski at home plate to end the inning.

Huntington Valley scored its last run in the top of the sixth to

conclude the scoring. From second base, Hunt stole third and scored

on an error.

Mesa haulted Huntington Valley’s streak after pitcher Brandon

Kelly caught a pop fly by Matt Steinhaus, and second baseman Brian

Waldron threw out Vanderpool to end the sixth inning.

Mesa finished with five hits, including two hits from Amendoca,

and one by Tyler Sheffner, J.T. McLuckey and Myzinski.

Matt McEachern, Timmy Miller, Jordan Myers and Logan Benter

assisted in Mesa’s effort.