Mesa Dawgs win twice, advance in Mira Loma

MIRA LOMA — The Costa Mesa Dinger Dawgs won twice on Wednesday to advance to the 12-team, double-elimination tournament of the 12-and-under United States Specialty Sports Assn. World Series at Big League Dreams Park.

The Dinger Dawgs, a team made up of mostly Major Division All-Stars from Costa Mesa National Little League, defeated the Chino Hills Dirt Dawgs, 11-3, in five innings by mercy rule to start the day.

Costa Mesa Coach Rob Stillman said Aaron Wood pitched well in 4 1/3 innings. Donte Capoccia and Tyler Rios contributed two hits each.

In the fifth inning, with Costa Mesa leading, 6-3, the Dinger Dawgs collected six straight hits to end the game. Levi Stillman and Jeff Carlyle singled, then Rios doubled. Capoccia followed with a triple and Chad Fackler and Jesse Paz had a single each.

Capoccia proved to be the star for Costa Mesa, leading the Dinger Dawgs to a 10-7 win over the SoCal Diablos in five innings. The game ended because of a 1-hour, 45-minute time limit.

Capoccia banged out two triples and a double to go with three runs and five RBIs. Costa Mesa will play either Friday or Saturday, depending on what seed it receives today, Stillman said.

— From staff reports