McClanahan’s Mets stay hot in TOC opener

HUNTINGTON BEACH — For the Costa Mesa National Little League Minor B Mets, Saturday’s District 62 Tournament of Champions opener was like a clinic.

Big bats? Check.

Nearly mistake-free defense? Check.

Lights-out pitching? Check.

All the pieces were there for the Mets, who pounded out an 18-3 win over the Costa Mesa American Little League Indians at Marina Park.

But for Mets Manager Mike McClanahan, whose team advances to the Minor B TOC quarterfinals on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Marina, the pitching was the most satisfying piece of the winning puzzle.

Starting pitcher Jake Ponsford and relievers Grant Mason and Andrew Halloran held the Indians to just five hits, none of which came after the second inning. Mason was particularly impressive, striking out six in three innings.

“We had three great pitchers today,” McClanahan said. “The defense really held them to nothing, and we had the bats. The kids were running well and stealing bases, but the difference was really the pitching.”

Of course, it was the bats that gave the pitchers some breathing room early. The Mets (17-6) exploded for four runs in the top of the first on singles from Halloran and Michael McClanahan, a double from Brandon Jensen and a triple from Ponsford.

Michael McClanahan, the starting catcher, finished four for four with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBIs. Ponsford was two for three with a triple, and Ryan Bonker and Ted Zoerner each scored twice.

The team scored at least one run in every inning, but really broke it open in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring 10 runs on just four hits. That was because they were patient, drawing eight walks in the game.

It’s that kind of offensive production that helped the Mets to four 20-run games this season before finishing as runners-up in Costa Mesa National Little League Minor B.

“We thought we’d hit a lot of home runs at this field because the fence was closer [150 feet],” said Mets shortstop Christian Kent, who finished one for four with an RBI. “But it was a high fence.”

It must have seemed extra high to the Indians, who nevertheless struck early. Leadoff hitter Quinten Ausband singled in the bottom of the first, advanced on a pair of wild pitches and scored on Alex Herrera’s single.

Herrera then scored when Indians second baseman Rudy Aguirre roped a double to left, cutting the Mets’ lead at the time to 4-2.

The Indians (14-7), the Costa Mesa American Little League Minor B champions, added another run in the second when Dakota Lofgren walked and scored on an RBI single by Noah Ostunio. But they wouldn’t get closer.

No matter to Indians Manager Jim Schwarz, who was very proud of his team.

“We had fun,” Schwarz said. “We were just glad to get the opportunity to do this. We thought the season was over two weeks ago, but then they said there was a tournament, and we were happy to be in it.”

Gianna Guyot, a rare girl on the Mets’ roster, proved she belonged by going one for three with a double and run scored.

“We weren’t sure how it would be having her on the team,” said Michael McClanahan — the teammate, not the coach. “But she has done a good job.”

Also there providing support for the Mets was Cole Wachman, who broke his nose at a recent practice and will likely miss the rest of the season.

THE METS: Andrew Halloran, Christian Kent, Michael McClanahan, Brandon Jensen, Jake Ponsford, Grant Mason, Gianna Guyot, Ryan Bonker, Ted Zoerner, Tanner Riedle, Blake Bonnet, Cole Wachman.

THE INDIANS: Quinten Ausband, Teddy Lopez, Andre Espinoza, Alex Herrera, Rudy Aguirre, Dakota Lofgren, Noah Ostunio, C.J. Schwarz, Kevin Barnett, Grant Ripchick, Noah Gaeta, Charlie Marks, Zach Nielsen.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at [email protected].