Newport 9-10s roll to runner-up finish

The Newport Beach Little League 9- and 10-year-old American

All-Stars showed little mercy in two wins that preceded their 6-3

championship-game loss to North Mission Viejo Sunday in the District

55 All-Star Tournament at Youth Sports Park.

Outscoring Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano a combined 28-5,

Newport won the second-chance bracket with two victories, before

losing to North Mission Viejo in the final.

Newport gave its fans plenty to cheer about, finishing the

tournament with a 7-2 record. Newport’s defeat of San Juan Capistrano

won it a duel with North Mission Viejo for the tournament title.

An 11-run first inning, coupled with a five-run third and a

one-run second, gave Newport the 17-4 win.

Newport batted through the order twice as Michael Bloom went 2 for

2 with a walk and scored three runs. Chris Freeman had two hits and

two RBIs and Ben Capaldi smacked a double in the gap to plate two

runs.

Parker Werline also contributed offensively for Manager Bart

Thomsen’s team, going 1 for 1 with a walk.

On the mound, Michael Borchard pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing

five hits and four runs while going 1 for 3 with two runs and two

RBIs for Newport. Bloom entered the game in the fourth and recorded

the game’s final out.

Newport played flawless defense.

In Newport’s previous game, an 11-1 triumph over Laguna Niguel,

steady pitching from Sean Tokuyama, some defensive highlights and

offensive execution keyed the win.

Laguna Niguel had the leadoff hitter on in the second and fourth

innings, but solid defense prevented any runs from scoring.

In the second, shortstop Borchard made a catch with runners at

first and second. A passed ball allowed runners to advance to second

and third, but Tokuyama struck out the next batter for the second

out.

The next batter ripped a ground ball down the third-base line, but

third baseman Nick Flamson made a diving backhand catch, got back on

his feet and threw to Christian at first to end the inning.

Then in the fourth, with one on and no outs, a Laguna Niguel

batter hit a pop fly over Thomsen’s head at second base, but he was

able to make the catch. Christian caught a soft liner for the second

out and a groundout to Flamson ended the inning.

After Laguna Niguel took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first,

Newport stormed back with four of their own in the first to take a

4-1 lead.

Leadoff batter Werline walked and four straight singles by

Borchard, Bloom, Christian and Freeman made it 4-1.

Newport’s big inning came in the third, a two-out rally.

Christian singled but the next two batters were retired.

Consecutive walks to Blake Thomsen and Flamson loaded the bases and

Joey Booth and Werline drew RBI walks.

Borchard broke the game open with an outfield single scoring

Flamson and Booth. Werline was tagged out at home trying to score

from first.

The scoring train continued for Newport as Chase Carlile led off

the fourth with a line-drive single to left. Christian reached on an

error and the runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball.

Tokuyama then helped himself with a single and stole second.

Thomsen singled, scoring Christian and Tokuyama as Newport took a

10-run lead, with the 10-run mercy rule going into effect.

Tokuyama pitched out of a first-inning jam, allowing only one run,

and threw only 10 pitches in the third to retire the side in order.