Hernandez helps Costa Mesa win

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Pitch after pitch, Daniel Hernandez would not back down.

Facing a 1-2 count with the bases loaded in the first inning of an elimination game, the 12-year-old boy kept thinking, “Don’t ever give up. Always hang tough.”

Hernandez typified the Costa Mesa National Little League All-Stars, battling back to hit the first grand slam of his life. It was also his first home run of the year that was part of Costa Mesa’s stunning 11-0 mercy-rule win over Huntington Valley in four innings Wednesday. The victory puts the Costa Mesa All-Stars in Monday’s championship game of the District 62 All-Stars Majors Division Tournament.

They’ll play against Ocean View and since both teams have one loss in the double-elimination tournament, Monday’s game will be for the championship.

Costa Mesa, which has never won a district all-star tournament, will be making its second straight appearance in a title game Monday at 5:30 p.m. at LeBard Park.

After a 12-4 loss to Huntington Valley Saturday, Costa Mesa responded with four straight wins, playing all five games in as many days.

The Costa Mesa All-Stars left LeBard Park Wednesday believing they could complete their remarkable run.

“We showed that we can beat any team,” Hernandez said of the win.

The Hernandez grand slam highlighted a five-run first inning that saw Costa Mesa bat around in the order. It did the same in the third, scoring six runs. Costa Mesa pitcher Dante Capoccia shut down Huntington Valley, striking out eight, allowing one hit and issuing one walk in four innings. He faced two over the minimum.

“... We faced the best pitcher in our area and he just shut us down,” Huntington Valley Manager Steve Bogard said.

Capoccia struck out the first four batters he faced. Levi Stillman, Costa Mesa’s second baseman, helped Capoccia’s shutout with a slick snag of a line drive in the bottom of the third inning.

Hernandez, who played for the Yankees this past season, also made life easier for Capoccia with his grand slam.

In the first inning, Costa Mesa loaded the bases with a Ryan West single and then back-to-back hit batsmen. The Huntington Valley starter hit Capoccia and Jake Stone on consecutive pitches. Matt Jarmacz then reached on a fielder’s choice with his RBI groundout. After Eric Molina walked, Hernandez came up with his home run that just cleared the fence in left field.

Hernandez, just as his teammates, had been motivated to eliminate Huntington Valley since before Tuesday’s game. Costa Mesa Manager Rob Stillman heard someone from Huntington Valley asking what time its team would play on Monday. Rob Stillman was quick to tell his players and the ploy apparently worked.

The Costa Mesa All-Stars knew they could eliminate Huntington Valley after Jarmacz connected for a double with the bases loaded that scored Capoccia and West for an 11-0 lead.

After the game ended, Rob Stillman reminded his players, shouting, “One more game! One more game!” and hoping they’ll show the fire they displayed Wednesday.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].