Tournament of Champions: Angels Fall Just Short

Steve Virgen

HUNTINGTON BEACH - The Mets were bigger than the Angels in a

District 62 Tournament of Champions Minor B game Thursday at Huntington

Valley Park.

The Robinwood Little League Mets had bigger players and after four

innings they had the bigger lead, 5-0, but the little Angels from the

Costa Mesa American League would not quit.

The Angels came back and caught the Mets with two runs in the bottom

of the sixth inning, sending the game into extra inning.

But, the Mets’ size proved to be too much as they scored eight runs in

the ninth inning and won, 13-5.

“That was just amazing,” Angels Manager Jeff Hirsch said of his

Angels’ effort. “They played with a lot of pride. I’m just totally

impressed that they made it a nine-inning game, that was just

unbelievable.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Angels started their comeback.

Matthew Mendoza and Greg Gute scored one run each as both were walked and

both stole a base.

Joey Blackwell then scored on a passed ball in the fifth inning. He

was walked and he also stole a base.

Then, in the sixth inning, Garrett Hirsch came up with a huge hit and

Matt McEachern cracked a hard grounder. Garrett Hirsch smashed an RBI

double which scored Mendoza and Garrett Hirsch tied the game when he

crossed home plate after an error.

Led by pitcher Garrett Hirsch, the Angels also played solid defense,

as they didn’t allow a run during four straight innings, before the

ninth.

Jeff Hirsch was pleased with Scott MacIntosh and Danny Hurley who

contributed efforts late in the season. Garrett Hirsch and Brian Waldron,

provided leadership and Garrett Hirsch called them the team’s “field

generals.”