Angels capture Majors Division crown

Seaview Little League

The Angels captured first place in the Majors Division at Seaview Little League by emerging with a come-from-behind, 4-3 victory over the Yankees Saturday.

Strong pitching from Kaden Kaneko, Blake Hepburn and Jack Horton, combined with a clutch two-run single by Spencer Bazer, had given the Yankees 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Behind a key double by Adam Slavik, the Angels tied the score (3-3) to force extra innings.

The Angels will take the division’s No. 1-seed into the postseason playoffs.

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Minor A Division

Phillies 16 Yankees 11: The Phillies completed an undefeated regular season and took first place in the division by ending the regular season with a win over the Yankees. The Phillies (10-0) fell behind early thanks to timely hitting by the Yankees’ Connor Collins and Charlie Martin. The Phillies came roaring back with key hits from Cole Power and Jack Forman, and a three-run home run by Drake Plotkin.

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Fountain Valley Little LeagueMajors Division

Twins 4, Indians 2: The Fountain Valley Twins avenged a mercy-rule loss to the Costa Mesa American Indians in a game that featured strong pitching and defense Saturday at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

The teams were scoreless going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Garrett Poe of the Twins drew a walk and then Jake Bitzer drove a pitch 200 feet over the fence in left field for his league-leading sixth homer of the year. On the next pitch, The Twin completed their scoring in the fifth when Pablo Crespo, Chanson Ching and Trenton Ching all singled, and Crespo and Chanson Ching scored on the Indians’ only error of the game.

Tanner Motske, who doubled, started on the mound for the Twins. He threw four shutout innings and gave up two hits, three walks and struck out three. Luke Bundesen, who singled in the game, closed the game and allowed only one earned run. The Twins’ defense was led by Crespo, Motske, Trenton Ching, Luke Logan, Jacob Richard and catcher Luke Arnold.

— Steve Motske

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Ocean View Little LeagueMinor A Division

Mud Hens 4, Bulls 3: On the final day of the regular season Saturday. the Mud Hens outlasted the Bulls in a game that went 10 innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Bruno Stenzel and Zander Fletcher singled before Kyle Roeder hit a walk-off RBI single to bring in the winning run.

Mud Hens pitchers Jag Burden, Chance DiMarco, Thomas Williams and Nick Skorheim, combined for a strong effort on the mound. The Mud Hens took an early lead but the Bulls scored on a passed ball in the sixth inning to tie the score at 3. Burden also made a key diving catch in center field in the bottom of the eighth.

— Laurie Skorheim

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Minor B Division

Mets 13, Mudcats 6: The Mets jumped out to an early lead by scoring 11 runs over the first three innings and went on to knock off the Mudcats on Saturday.

An RBI single by Lucas Flynn and a single by Porter Reynolds during the first inning, and an RBI double by Ryan Idnani and a two-run single by Flynn in the second inning, fueled the Mets’ offense early. Idnani racked up three RBIs on two hits for the Mets. Reynolds shut down the Mudcats during his time on the mound. Reynolds held the Mudcats hitless over two innings, walked three, struck out five and didn’t allow an earned run.

The Mudcats scored five runs in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to three. A passed ball, RBI single by Ashtin Hein, a walk by Angel Zamora, a bases loaded walk by Kyle Kimoto and a walk by Elisah Herrera set off a Mudcats rally. After posting two runs in the third, the Mets again scored two in the fourth. In the third, the Mets scored on a two-run double by Idnani that scored Blake Ruitenschild and Miles Elliott.

Aeros 18 Mudcats 9: Strong pitching and defense were the key to the Aeros’ victory over the Mudcats on May 9. Connor McKelvey’s hit in the second inning started a five-run inning for the Aeros. Aiden Daniels finished with two singles and three RBIs and Mason Baumann’s hit in the fifth started a four-run rally for the Aeros.

Christopher Roberts had a key hit in the fourth inning for the Mudcats, who later rallied in the sixth to score six runs, highlighted by an RBI hit by William Brooks. Jimmy Legg came on in relief for the Aeros and recorded three strikeouts to end the game.

Starting Aeros pitcher Aero’s Matt Hernandez struck two out and didn’t allow a walk in the first three innings. Chad Lux struck out two and allowed one run.

— Fran Soto

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Lookouts 14, Rockhounds 3: Starting pitcher David Drigla struck out six in three scoreless innings to help the Lookouts snap a two-game losing streak. Edison Chiu (three runs) ignited the offense with a run-scoring, opposite-field single and A.J. Hurtado had two hits. Brandon Wood chipped in with an RBI single and Ethan Choi and Isaac Ballinas each scored twice for the Lookouts (6-3).

Drigla gave the Lookouts an emotional boost by working out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the first inning, by striking out the next three hitters. Hurtado struck out six in two innings of relief and Gavin Kells (two strikeouts) closed out the win.

— Daniel Lewis

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AYSO SoccerGirls’ Under-19 Division

Kiss My Grass 2, Long Beach 0: Region 5’s Under-19 girls’ soccer team, Kiss My Grass, wrapped up its second straight undefeated season Saturday by blanking Long Beach (Region 177), 2-0. Jenny Soliman scored late in the game to become the team’s scoring leader for the season at 10 goals. She set the mark from teammate Lauren Brose, who had scored her ninth goal of the season earlier in the game. Megan Molina was next with five goals on the season.

Kiss My Grass held their opponents to a league-low six goals during for the season and was led by goalie Kaitlyn Ramirez. Cami Stevens anchored the defense at sweeper and was assisted by defenders Breanna O’Neil, Alex Capuano, Mikayla Mager, Toni Abad and Michelle Mendoza. The midfield was anchored by Taylor Merickel, who also contributed four goals. Other midfielders include Kendra Martinez, Ashley Greene, Alyx Merickel, Kalei Hauber, Brittney Stevens and Desiree Fisher.