CMNLL Majors: Marlins falter at TOC

Tony Altobelli

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Three unearned runs, a controversial call and a

monster-size helping of heat added up to a 7-5 loss for the Costa Mesa

National Little League Major Division Marlins in the first round of the

District 62 Tournament of Champions Thursday at Robinwood Park.

The Ocean View Cardinals overcame an early deficit with the combination

of dominant relief pitching and timely power.

“That was the best pitching we’ve faced all year,” Marlins Manager Julian

Valdez said. “That’s a team that will go a long way in this tournament.

They’ve got the pitching to do it.”

The Cardinals’ bullpen tandem of Justin Chambers and Chris Ralmer

combined to strikeout 13 Marlins, while allowing only one infield hit

through the final five innings.

Marlins’ hurler Victor Valdez also pitched well, allowing only three

earned runs over five innings with seven strikeouts.

“Victor threw well today, but he went up against some big hitters,” the

elder Valdez said. “Nobody has hit Victor that well all season.”

A defensive miscue by the Marlins allowed the Cardinals an extra out and

they took advantage of it. With a runner on first, Ralmer, the 5-foot-10,

180-pound cleanup hitter, smacked Valdez’ first offering over the

right-center field fence, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 first-inning lead.

The Marlins quickly answered in the bottom half of the first. P.J.

Errington and Mike Wolfe each reached base before Valdez sent them home

with a double off the fence in left field, tying the game at 2-2.

Two batters later, Ryan Bagwell hit a two-run home run to left, giving

the Marlins a 4-2 lead.

“Those guys have been our big sluggers all season long,” Julian Valdez

said.

The score remained 4-2, before the Cards put three controversial

fourth-inning runs on the board to take the lead for good.

With one run already in and two more runners in scoring position,

Cardinals’ leadoff hitter Nick Mendoza hit a slow roller back to Victor

Valdez, who had trouble picking up the ball. Valdez recovered and threw

toward the plate, but the ball hit the Ocean View runner before crossing

the plate without sliding. The ball got away and the runner from second

also came around to score.

“There’s a must-slide rule at this level,” Valdez contested. “It was a

judgment call that could have gone our way as much as it could have gone

their way. I think the runner should have been out and the runs should

not have counted.”

Ralmer connected again for another home run, his sixth of the season,

giving the Cards a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning.

Victor Valdez walked with two outs, went to second on a passed ball and

scored when Vinnie Valdez’s ground ball found its way into right field,

cutting the lead to 7-6.

In the sixth, Eric Seagondollar, hobbled by a bum right ankle, hustled

out an infield single for the Marlins third and final hit of the game.

“This was a team that never quit,” Julian Valdez said. “We were down a

number of times this season, but we always seemed to find a way to come

back. We just came up a little short.”