Sands, Della Grotta in classic, star-spangled pitchers duel

MISSION VIEJO -- When all-star baseball tournaments come along every

summer, traveling to remote sites can occur and is often expected.

Logic would say the Newport Beach Little League National Major

All-Stars and their American League counterparts would play at

Lincoln Elementary or a site closer to their homes. Quite the

contrary, as the two teams -- along with family and friends --

traveled to Curtis Park for Saturday’s District 55 All-Star

tournament game. The two teams made the drive worth it as the

American squad won a classic pitchers duel, 1-0, in a little more

than an hour, to eliminate the National All-Stars from the

second-chance bracket.

The American’s Mitch Sands and the National’s Fletcher Della

Grotta each threw complete games worthy of all-star billing.

“That was a courageous performance,” Michael Borchard, whose son

Michael got one of Newport American’s three hits Saturday, said about

Sands’ performance.

The 12-year-old hurler struck out 10, allowing only two hits and

walking two in an 85-pitch effort.

Della Grotta was equally impressive, fanning six while walking one

and limiting the opposition to three hits in a 75-pitch outing.

“You can’t get any closer than that,” American Manager Tim Scott

said. “Mitch gave a fantastic effort. We were focused. The kids were

determined to play well and play with pride.

“In a friendly rivalry like this you always want to have a good

game because these guys are your league mates, [buddies] and

neighbors.”

Sands admitted the familiarity with teammates and opponents made

him slightly nervous starting out, but as the game wore on he became

more and more comfortable, tossing his favorite pitch -- a wicked

curveball -- that stifled the National bats.

“It drops a lot,” Sands said when asked what made him effective

Saturday. “I knew what pitches they could hit and couldn’t hit. It

was fun facing them.”

National Manager John Della Grotta agreed that there were few

surprises when both teams met Saturday after they had faced one

another in two scrimmages last week.

“Both pitchers performed even better,” he said. “The hitters had

seen both pitchers all season long, so nothing was unexpected. Sands

pitched a whale of a game.”

A two-out walk to James Petrilli followed by Brad Hess’ groundball

that was booted in the infield gave the National first and second

with two outs in their final at-bat, but Sands calmly struck out the

next batter on six pitches, pumping his fist ever so slightly as he

walked off the mound with teammates surrounding him.

“I just tried to throw my best,” Sands said of his final

strikeout.

Sands also scored the game’s lone run in the top of the fourth.

With no outs, catcher Timmy Winning sent the first pitch toward

center fielder Scott Ely, who made the catch and attempted to throw

out Sands, but to no avail. Hess, playing catcher, alertly fired to

shortstop Reed Zachman, who tagged out a runner tagging from first.

Ely made a diving catch on a shallow popup to center to rob Winning

of a hit.

Newport National threatened in the bottom of the fourth following

a one-out walk to Max Frisbie. Michael Bloom roped a pitch to deep

center field, sending John Doering retreating toward the fence that

stands 200 feet away from the plate. Doering reached up with his left

hand to knock the ball down with his glove, keeping it in the park,

and alertly fired into the infield to hold the runners at second and

third. Sands then struck out the next batter swinging. Earlier in the

inning Doering caught a long fly hit by Hess.

“The one key hit eluded us,” John Della Grotta said. “The first

game we were excellent on bunts, forcing the defense to make plays.

In the last two games [of the District 55 tournament] we couldn’t get

the bunt down with consistency and it always seemed like we had two

outs with runners on.

“We didn’t pressure [Sands] by getting runners to third base,

where a passed ball could mean a run. Credit their defense, which

kept us off the bases.”

Newport American committed only one error, while the National

committed two.

Sands and Merrett Scott each singled for the American while Jerry

Kazmierczak walked. Scott Thomsen roped a single into left for the

National.

The American team will face Laguna Hills Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at

the same site.