NHBA Bronco: Newport takes Sectionals opener

TONY ALTOBELLI

GARDEN GROVE - The Newport Harbor Baseball Association’s Bronco

Division (ages 11-12) All-Star team picked up where it left off with an

8-2 win over the Fountain Valley “B” All-Stars Thursday in the Pony

Baseball Bronco Sectional Tournament at Westhaven Park.

“People don’t necessarily regard Newport as a team that can go a long

way, but I think we can compete with anyone,” Manager Kevin Heenan said.

“We’ll show up each game and we’ll be a factor. I think in this

tournament, any team can win it.”

Dennis Heenan went 3 for 3, including a double, one run scored and two

RBI to lead Newport’s offense. Dustin Schuler was 3 for 4 with a triple,

one run scored and two RBIs, while Kurt Yacko and Donny Hunt each chipped

in with two hits.

“We’re doing a good job of setting the table offensively,” Heenan

said. “We still left 10 on base so hopefully we can get a few more of

those clutch hits.”

Newport took control of the game early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in

the bottom of the second. Davis Pemstein, Blake Fogg, Heenan and Billy

Munce each drove in a run.

After Fountain Valley trimmed the lead in half in the third, Newport

responded with two runs in the fourth. Alec Martinez had an RBI

groundout, followed by a two-out RBI single by Schuler.

Newport extended its lead to 7-2 when Heenan ripped a two-out double

down the left-field line, scoring Yacko who reached on a walk.

Schuler closed out Newport’s scoring with an RBI triple in the sixth

inning, scoring Frazier on the play.

“We really try to put the ball in play,” Heenan said. “We only struck

out four times today and we really force the pressure on our opponent’s

defense.”

Newport did get slightly dinged up in the course of winning the game,

however. Heenan had some discomfort in his elbow while pitching and was

relieved by Yacko.

Munce took a pitch off his left wrist behind the plate. Both should be

ready for Saturday’s game with Fountain Valley “A”.

Yacko pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief and allowed only one earned run.

Schuler threw the final two innings and struck out three.

“Our pitching is solid and we play well defensively,” Heenan said. “We

play catch well and in most cases, that’s all it takes to be successful.”

With the win, Newport will play Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Fountain

Valley’s “A” squad. If they win, they play on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. A loss

on Saturday will give Newport an extra game at 9 a.m.

All games will be played at Westhaven Park, located on West Ave., just

north of Lampson Ave. in Garden Grove.