Mariners captures volleyball crown

The Mariners Christian School eighth-grade girls’ volleyball team continued in the school’s winning tradition by finishing atop the standings of the Christian Athletic League of Orange County.

Mariners Christian used strong play to beat Calvary Costa Mesa in the championship match Monday night. The Dolphins won, 2-1 in games, with a dominating score of 15-0 in the last game. The star of the second game was eighth-grader Emilee Haskell, one of the team’s two setters, who served 15 straight points in the final game.

The front row players, Lauren Dean, Cassidy Carroll and Nicole Royal said it felt like they were on the “Dream Team,” as they played the net well and kept Haskell at the serving line.

Every player on this team contributed to a successful season. The Dolphins are Kate Allen, Cassidy Carroll, Valentina Faubian, Katya Hanessian, Emilee Haskell, Bethany Hill, Noelle Hubbard, Rachel Kraushaar, Alicia Markley, Brooke Meer, Nicole Royal, Mylie Wilson, Annalise Wood, Alexa Lucklow and Lauren Dean.

This year’s team has come a long way in its skills and character. After the game, the girls took their trophy directly to the trophy case and began to pray. These young ladies knew they wanted to thank God for the talents he has blessed them with, the life lessons they have gained and the friendships they have formed.

— Karri Meyer

Sixth-graders win too

Mariners Christian School returned to its winning ways Friday by beating Harbor Day, 2-1 in games, in the sixth-grade Division II girls’ volleyball championship match to take the Christian Athletic League of Orange County title.

Coached by Hillary Olson, the girls won the first game, lost the second and then came back to win the final and earn the victory.

“The game Friday night was very exciting,” Coach Olson said. “I was very pleased with how the girls played as a team. The tension was high and the girls had to work to remain focused.”

Madison Letterman was very vocal on the court and could be heard encouraging her teammates. Jessica Hanson was consistent with her serves and her passes. Chandy Alayra was the aggressive edge that the team needed, sliding on her knees to return what seemed like impossible shots. Samantha Sanchez was cool and collected as always, Amanda Moore was focused and ready for anything, and Rebecca Hanna stayed focused and could be seen doing a little dance to stay relaxed and loose.

“The girls have come so far from where they started,” Olson said. “They have really proved that hard work does pay off.”

— Reader submission

Dolphins boys win league title

The Mariners Christian School Dolphins faced off against the Calvary Chapel Eagles for the boys’ sixth-grade Christian Athletic League of Orange County basketball championship on Friday.

The Dolphins rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out an exciting 39-37 victory.

The Calvary Eagles took control from the tip-off and flew to a 14- 5 lead at halftime, as Mariners only managed to connect on free throws by Steven Guder, George MacCabe and Taso Marcopulos. Without the swarming Mariners defense by Matt Alessi, Josh Spicer and Mitch Dean, the Calvary scoring of Josh Sepajian and Evan Kempkes would have been too much to handle.

Baskets finally started to drop for the Dolphins in the third quarter, as Joe Janssen and Noah Giddings got the points rolling. Trailing by eight points going into the fourth quarter, the Dolphins worked the high-post give-and-go to perfection with MacCabe and Marcopulos. Taking their first lead with less than two minutes to go, the Dolphins held off Calvary’s final effort to win, 39-37.

Marcopulos finished with 12 points and MacCabe added a game-high 20 to take the championship.

— Reader submission

All-Stars on to sectionals

The Newport-Mesa National Junior Basketball boys’ sixth-grade All-Star team won two of three games last weekend in tournament action.

Newport-Mesa opened All-Star play with a 51-18 rout of Santa Ana, then followed up with a 51-32 victory over San Clemente. The team’s only loss over the weekend was a 42-38 defeat to Cypress.

Newport-Mesa will play at the NJB sectional tournament, a 12-team event, Saturday and Sunday. Should Newport-Mesa advance from the tournament, it will be one of six teams in Orange County and the Inland Empire to advance to the upcoming Nationals tournament at Cal State Fullerton.

The Newport-Mesa boys’ sixth-grade All Star team is: Chase Dugan, Jordan Hauser, Brenden Hueston, Blake Kormos, Harry Miller, Andrew Pimental, Nick Sperr, Mark Thompson, Jack Van Delsem and Jake Whelan. The team is coached by Peter Hauser.

— Reader submission

Practice makes perfect

Newport-Mesa took a 30-12 lead on Los Alamitos into the fourth period of a National Junior Basketball All-Star meeting Sunday.

Fritz Miller, Jake Pearson and Jack McClintock — each with five, were pulling down rebounds and Danny Rogers (eight points), Pearson (seven points), Jack McClintock (four points), Brennan Greenwald (six points), Drew Johnston (five points) and Chase Grippo (four points) were draining shots. Johnston had a terrific performance in the second period as he hit a three-point shot and a two-point shot, snatched four rebounds and handed out an assist.

Grippo had a good, all-around game with four points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds. Billy Shaw fought under the boards and had rebounds, points and a steal. Kyle Hatch got passes into the post for three assists and added a couple of rebounds. Brett Super had three steals in the second period and two more in the fifth.

Los Alamitos closed the gap in the fourth period to pull within four points and went to a full-court press to start the fifth period. Zach Blaine came through late in the fifth when Newport-Mesa was down by two with a big, three-point shot to put Newport-Mesa up by a point.

Trailing by one and with two seconds remaining on the clock, Los Alamitos got the ball to inbound under the Newport-Mesa basket. The game’s time keeper was trying to reset the clock for the last two seconds but when the ball was put into play, the game clock had 43 seconds showing. The ball was advanced past midcourt and a foul was called against a Newport-Mesa player. With time expired, Los Al hit two free throws to go in front, 39-38.

No protests were lodged, however, for this “practice” game.

— Greg Super

Dodgers win first two

Opening Day at Costa Mesa American Little League could not be denied though dark clouds surrounded the grounds over Costa Mesa High School March 6.

The traditional pancake breakfast and host of vendors had to be canceled, in order to avoid inconveniences. The team parade and games were kept on the schedule in hopes that a little rain would not prevent the launch of the 2010 Little League spring baseball season.

The Costa Mesa High cheerleading squad welcomed each team, from T-Ball through the Majors division, as the players made their way onto the Majors field for their introductions.

After Opening Day housekeeping duties were completed by this year’s league president, Ryan Chambers, it was time to Play Ball!

In the likes of a “Freeway Series,” the Angels were the visiting team facing the Dodgers in the Majors Division home opener. The game proved to be a nail-biter with the Dodgers edging the Angels, 3-2.

Daniel “D-Mo” Morales started the game for the Dodgers and struck out the first two Angels batters. He then awarded a base on balls to Ben Resnick who scored following a single by Garrett Chadderdon and a passed ball. The inning ended when Morales recorded his third strikeout.

Angels pitcher Chadderdon started the game and retired the first two batters before facing Morales. After working a full count, Morales launched a deep fly ball over the center-field fence for a solo home run to tie the score at 1-1.

Ryan Lether took the mound for the Dodgers in the second and third innings and showed great stuff as he struck out four of the seven batters he faced without allowing a run. Chadderdon was still on the mound for the Angels in the bottom of the third when Chandler “Godzilla” Littley had a lead-off hit for the Dodgers. He then moved to second on an excellent sacrifice bunt by Garett Kerley. Littley eventually scored on a couple of passed balls to put the Dodgers in the lead, 2-1.

William “The Kid” Leiby took the mound for the Dodgers in the top of the fourth inning. After Chadderdon recorded his second single of the game for the Angels, the Dodgers’ defense was able to prevent Chadderdon from scoring. In the bottom of the inning, Morales sent a hard-hit ground ball past the Angels shortstop to the left-center field fence for a double. He then scored on a couple of passed balls to increase the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.

Evan “The Big Hurt” Larsen took the mound for the Dodgers in the top of the fifth inning and gave up one run as Jesse Campbell walked and then scored on a couple of passed balls to bring the Angels to within 3-2. Cole Chambers took the mound for the Angels in the top of the sixth and struck out two of the three batters he faced, and retired the side.

Larsen eventually closed the game for the Dodgers, striking out five of the seven batters he faced.

Excellent pitching and good defense on both sides kept this low-scoring game very exciting. The players drew cheers from the fans and parents who weathered out the somewhat heavy rains during pre-game infield practice.

What an excellent way to kick off the 2010 spring baseball season at Costa Mesa American Little League.

— Reader submission

Dodgers down Yankees

In another CMALL Majors Division game that pitted crosstown rivals against each other, the Dodgers scored a 7-4 victory over a Yankees team that was playing its home opener on its new, beautiful fields.

Dodgers pitcher Ryan Lether started the first inning where the Yankees scored three runs before Frankie Rodriguez came in for relief duty the remainder of the inning. The first out of the game came on a spectacular, on-the-run fly-ball catch from rookie left fielder Grady “Bolt” Conner.

The inning ended with the Yankees in front, 3-0.

Rodriguez pitched a spectacular second, third, and, part of the fourth, innings, without allowing any runs.

In the top of the third, with the score still 3-0, the Dodgers took the plate. One out into their at-bat, four consecutive hitters reached base either by walk or were hit by pitch. All four went on to score to put the Dodgers in front, 4-3. With bases loaded and two out, Rodriguez comes to the plate and, facing a 2-2 count, hit a hard double out to the fence. Two runs come home before Evan Larsen beat out a dropped throw to the plate, to score all the way from first base. The Dodgers were now in front, 7-3.

The Yankees got one run back in the fourth, an inning where Larsen relieved Rodriguez.

Of the three Yankees that reached base the remainder of the game, none was able to advance beyond first base. Larsen struck out six of the 10 batters he faced.

— Reader submission

Rangers beat Twins

On the second weekend of the season, Costa Mesa American Little League Minor B Division rivals, the Rangers and Twins, went up against each other.

Twins starting pitcher, Joseph Regalado, struck out two batters in the top of the first inning but hits by Joey Santos, Darren Johnson, Joshua Beanes and Jackson Dugan gave the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

Trailing, 5-0, in the bottom of the third inning, the Twins put up five runs with hits by A.J McLean, Drake Bradeson, Cory Richards and Joseph Regalado, to tie the game. In the top of the fifth, with the score still tied (5-5), Rangers hitters Santos, Glen Reyes, Adrian Orozco and Christian Orozco, put together a four-run inning to give the Rangers a 9-5 lead. They would add four more runs in the sixth to close out a 13-5 victory.

— Wade Kerley

Red Raiders battle Kickin’ Littles

Spring is not the only thing coming that is exciting everyone. Spring not only brings flowers but a new thrilling season of soccer as well.

AYSO Region 97 started things March 6. One of the games was the Red Raiders vs. the Kickin’ Littles. It was an exciting game with great enthusiasm by both teams. The Kickin’ Littles were tough competition, but the Red Raiders and their coach Gordon Wanlass were prepared for the fight. The Kickin’ Littles were keeping the ball on their feet with some very close shots, but the Red Raiders kept on their toes and had some great interceptions by Reade Decker, Kent Wanlass, and Brady Hatfield as well as some nice defense played by William Jacobsen, John Woodruff, Blake Woronieki and Morgan Pinckney.

With the Kickin’ Littles guarding the goal nicely and the Red Raiders’ strategy, the game stayed alive. There were some great goals by the Red Raiders’ Wyatt Wilson and some good blocks by the Kickin’ Littles

The game was outstanding and the next game will be too.

— Skylar Jacobsen