Costa Mesa National Giants just miss

Bryce Alderton

The Costa Mesa National Little League Minor A Giants walked off the

field at LeBard Park Saturday with a result as foreign to them as was

the type of game they played against the Fountain Valley Angels.

The Giants rolled into their quarterfinal contest in the District

62 Tournament of Champions on a 20-game winning streak, relying on a

potent lineup and sound defense to leave teams in their wake. The

Angels, however, limited the Giants to one hit and found a few holes

in the defense to stage a come-from-behind 3-2 victory in the

single-elimination tournament.

The Giants (26-2), the designated visiting team, held a 2-1 lead

going into the bottom of the fifth, when the Angels (18-5)

capitalized on an error and a single that found its way into center

field just under the shortstop’s glove to plate two runs.

But the Giants, who went undefeated in winning the Costa Mesa

National title, would not go quietly in the sixth, staging a two-out

rally with three straight walks to load the bases. The uprising

prompted Angel Manager Greg Stephens to use three pitchers in the

inning.

Walks to Brian Burciaga, Matt Carlyle and Kannon Stone forced

Stephens to bring in Eric Belgen.

It was one pitch, one out, as Belgen fielded a comebacker and

threw gently to first to stifle the Giants’ rally.

“That is the most suspenseful game I’ve been in in many years of

baseball,” Stephens said.

The three straight walks in the sixth -- the Giants had five in

the game -- were rare for a team that is usually more aggressive at

the plate, Giants Manager Kirk Stone said.

“I never told them to get a walk. The only time I gave a take sign

was at 3-and-0,” Kirk Stone said. “[Angels’ starting pitcher Michael

Tucker] was tired at the end.”

Tucker struck out eight, allowed one hit and walked four in 5 2/3

innings before Stephens went to Zac Milan, for one batter, then

Belgen. Tucker retired the side in order through the first three

innings.

“We didn’t bring the bats like we did all year and that is a

credit to [the Angels’ pitching].” Kirk Stone said.

“The [Ocean View] team we beat [a 5-2 decision Thursday] had an

extremely hard thrower, but [Tucker] threw just as hard.”

“We win a lot of tight, low-scoring games with key hits at the

end,” Greg Stephens said. “The Giants are a tough defensive team,

though.”

Giants’ starting pitcher Alex Krohnfeldt struck out five, walked

one and allowed one hit in her three shutout innings, before giving

way to Carlyle for the final two innings.

The Giants took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on two unearned runs.

With one out, Patrick Shanklin was hit by a pitch. Burciaga and

Carlyle then drew consecutive walks to load the bases.

Kannon Stone, the No. 2 batter, hit a grounder that caromed off

the third baseman’s glove to plate Shanklin. Hans Anderle drove in

Burciaga when Tucker threw wildly to first for an error after

fielding Anderle’s roller.

The Giants still had the bases loaded with one out, but a

strikeout and groundout made them settle for a 2-0 cushion.

The Angels trimmed the lead to 2-1 in their half of the fourth on

Connor McKenna’s RBI single, but an alert Giants’ defense prevented

any further damage on the play.

With the run in, the Giants caught an Angels base runner heading

back toward second just as McKenna was about to touch the bag.

Carlyle handled center fielder Jake Spielberger’s relay throw and,

with the lead runner heading toward third, threw to third baseman

Trey LeEle, who made the tag for the out.

The Angels made up for their missed chance in the fifth.

Leadoff hitter Tyler Kamisato reached safely on an error and

advanced to second on a wild pitch. Carlyle struck out the next

batter before Gage Banales singled to center field, with Kamisato

moving to third. Banales took second on the throw home.

Devin Vega’s slow-rolling grounder scooted inches under the

shortstop’s glove, bringing in the tying and go-ahead runs.

“If we make one play on [Banales’ or Vega’s] grounder, we go home

as a winner,” Kirk Stone said. “I told the kids there are games like

that. Some balls are hit hard and you make the plays while some balls

are hit soft and they get by you.”

“I still think we have the best defensive team. [The defense] got

us to where we are.”

Jacob Knapp, George DeLatore, Robert Webb and Johnathon Ponce also

contributed for the Giants, who took the loss in stride, their

manager said.

“I’m proud to see not many of them crying,” Kirk Stone said. “They

knew that it was close and there is nothing to be ashamed about

losing a one-run game.”