Sluggers take second in Fountain Valley

The Newport Beach Sluggers 9U travel team finished second in the USSSA Oktoberfest tournament in Fountain Valley.

Carter Healy was the winning pitcher in the first game against the Pacific Palisades Crush going four innings in a 12-9 victory.

The second game of the day was under the lights, against the Fullerton Titans. It was a nailbiter that ended with walk-off double by Calder Overfelt in the bottom of the sixth for an 18-17 win.

The 2-0 Saturday record earned the Sluggers a No. 2 seed for Sunday’s single-elimination game where they faced the Fullerton Titans again.

The Sluggers handily defeated the Titans the second time in four innings via mercy rule with a masterful complete-game pitching effort by lefty Charlie Mannon.

After a long break the Sluggers returned to the field to face Pacific Palisades Crush, who had just knocked off the No. 1 seed. Pacific Palisades had the edge and came out swinging, using momentum and enthusiasm from reaching the championship game as the No. 4 seed. The Crush was too much for the Sluggers to overcome.

The Newport Sluggers have reached the championship game in two of the three tournaments they have entered this year.

They look to come home with the champion trophy from the USSSA Halloween Haunt tournament Oct 28.

— Reader submission