Costa Mesa National Little League Bulldogs bring home TOC title

Several fans came to see the Costa Mesa National Little League Bulldogs play in the District 62 Tournament of Champions Minor B Division title game on Saturday.

More than 150 supporters sat in the outfield and lined the ballpark at Murdy Park in Huntington Beach to watch their favorite 8-, 9-, 10-year-olds play their little hearts out trying their best to bring Costa Mesa a Little League championship.

The Bulldogs delivered. The smallest league – with just 200 players – in District 62 came up big in the championship game, as the Bulldogs represented well while in Costa Mesa’s first appearance in a TOC title game in 10 years. Those fans had plenty to cheer about when the Bulldogs beat the Seaview Little League Lugnuts 9-3.

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Pictures and videos preserved the final out when Miles Dodge struck out a Lugnuts batter looking. Dodge celebrated by running to his catcher Sawyer Atkinson as teammates surrounded them in jubilation.

“This core group of kids, they all got along so well,” said Dan Atkinson, the Bulldogs manager. “They just meshed. Everyone supported each other. There wasn’t one giant superstar. It was just positive reinforcement throughout the tournament.”

And, oh, what a tournament it was for the Bulldogs, who opened the TOC with a win over Huntington Valley on June 10. Then the “fun” really started on June 14 in a victory against Fountain Valley.

Pitcher Henry Mann, who started each game in the tournament, was on a strict pitch count of 19 pitches according to league rules. He lasted just one inning. Dan Atkinson had to use five arms to secure the win and advance to Thursday’s semifinal against Ocean View, known throughout Orange County for its elite talent.

There was 35-pitch count in Thursday’s game for Mann, in order for him to start on Saturday. Ocean View got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning, as it hit two home runs and built a 4-0 lead.

But the Bulldogs answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Five runs is, by Minor B Division rules, the limit per inning.

Mann reached his pitch count in the second inning. Noah Nevins also used up his pitch count next. Atkinson then went to his son, Sawyer, who moved from catcher to pitcher and threw the final three innings to help lead the Bulldogs to a 13-9 win.

“That was the toughest game of the tournament,” the manger said. “That was our 25^th game of the season and we had never been down by four runs. That was a good experience for the kids.”

The Bulldogs finished the season 24-2 and won the Costa Mesa National Little League Minor B Division championship. Five players from the team earned a spot on the 13-player All-Star roster, including Sawyer Atkinson, Mann, Dodge, Nevins and Nico Viramontes.

The rest of the Bulldogs were: West Shaia, Sammy Beckers, Sam Ceja, Silas Jensen, Joshie Shapiro and Tavin Smith. Jason Mann and Dean Smith were also coaches.

“They were excited,” CMNLL player agent Stephanie Joyce said of the Bulldogs. “It was adorable. They didn’t understand the historical significance, that we hadn’t been to the championship in 10 years. We told them after the game. Their little jaws were on the ground.”

Joyce said the Bulldogs’ championship has been very meaningful for CMNLL.

“We were called a dying league and the worst league in District 62,” she said. “Sending our youngest team to the championship and winning has done wonders for our league, for the perception from outside and the internal perception. They can feel good about themselves.”

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Twitter: @SteveVirgen