Huntington Valley rises to occasion, 3-2

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Saying that his team keeps rising to the occasion, Manager Hank

Hazelwood watched his Huntington Valley Angels prove him right Monday as

they held off the Costa Mesa American Yankees, 3-2, in opening round play

of the 2000 District 62 Tournament of Champions Majors Division at

Robinwood Little League.

The Angels trailed 1-0, took a 3-1 lead in the middle of the game, then

held off a sixth-inning rally by the Yankees to move into Saturday’s

second-round game (9 a.m.) between the winner of Tuesday’s first-round

game between Robinwood No. 1 and Seaview No. 2.

“I thought our guys did a fantastic job today,” Hazelwood said. “As the

season moves along, we just keep rising to the occasion.”

Huntington Valley rose once again after Costa Mesa American’s Yankees,

the No. 2 team from their league, took a 1-0 first-inning lead when

Isaiah Werdel (walk) scored on Jordan Kalke’s infield grounder.

The Angels later pieced together a three-run rally in the second inning

when winning pitcher Michael Hensley opened the frame with a walk and Joe

Byers singled for Huntington Valley’s first hit of the game.

Mitchel Queen then produced a single to right field, which scored Hensley

from second base and tied the score at 1-1. Byers would score the

go-ahead run on a passed ball and Garrett Hazelwood, who walked, scored

what turned out to be the winning run on an infield error by the Yankees

for a 3-1 lead.

After that first inning, Hensley tamed the Yankees. The right-hander

pitched a total of four innings and only relinquished a third inning

leadoff single to Yankees’ No. 1 hitter, Skylar Cozad.

Along the way, Hensley struck out nine and also allowed three walks. He

worked his way out of his most serious jam by striking out consecutive

batters after Costa Mesa American had put runners at second and third

base with just one out.

“I thought Michael did a great job. He kept us in control, and our

offense gave him the runs he needed in that second inning,” Hank

Hazelwood said.

Frankie Mead, who started at third base for the Angels, closed the game

for Huntington Valley. Mead gave up a pair of hits and recorded two

strikeouts, the last of which ending the game.