Twins secure championship thanks to offensive outburst

The Fountain Valley Twins turned a big fourth inning outburst into a big victory that clinched a postseason championship.

The Twins broke away from a tight game with the Fountain Valley Angels by scoring 12 runs in the fourth inning, taking them from a 2-2 tie score, to a 14-2 victory in game that was halted by the mercy rule at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. The victory was the second in the three-game championship series for the Twins who won the Fountain Valley Little League Majors division postseason playoffs tournament.

Both the Twins and Angels advance represent Fountain Valley at the District 62 Tournament of Champions next week.

The Angels took a 2-0 lead, getting their first run on an RBI double by Jon Kerchenfaut in the opening inning, and an RBI single by Julian Berinti in the third. Kerchenfaut finished with two doubles and Mark Madrid singled.

The Twins drew even in the bottom of the third on a two-run hit by Tanner Motske and an RBI single by Luke Logan. They then blew the game open in the fourth. Jake Bitzer had a two-run double, Luke Wells an RBI double and Luke Arnold a two-run double. Luke Bundesen also had a two-run double, Pablo Crespo singled to drive in a run and Jake Bitzer hit a three-run home run into the parking lot beyond the fence in center field, to complete the scoring.

During the inning, Chanson Ching had two hits and Motske singled.

Bitzer threw the first 3 1/3 innings but Bundesen picked up the win by retiring the only two batters he faced.

— Submission by Steve Motske

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District 62 Tournament of Champions

The 2012 Little League District 62 Tournament of Champions starts Saturday () with opening-round play in Majors, Minor A, Minor B and Junior divisions. Huntington Valley is hosting the Area 1 bracket and Ocean View the Area 2 bracket, for the Majors, Minor A and Minor B tournaments. The Junior division tournament will be played at Ocean View High. All tournaments are single-elimination.

First-round games also will be played Monday. The tournament continues Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The Majors, Minor A and Minor B finals are June 16 at Huntington Valley. The Junior final is June 16 at Ocean View High.

Saturday’s schedule

Majors

Area 1 (at Huntington Valley LL)

9 a.m.: Westminster 1 vs. Ocean View 2

Noon: Huntington Valley 1 vs. Fountain Valley 2

3 p.m.: Costa Mesa American 1 vs. Robinwood 2

Area 2 (at Ocean View LL)

9 a.m.: Robinwood 1 vs. Huntington Valley 2

Noon: Ocean View 1 vs. Costa Mesa National 2

3 p.m.: Fountain Valley 1 vs. Westminster 2

Minor A Division

Area 1 (at Huntington Valley LL)

9 a.m.: Westminster 1 vs. Seaview 2

Noon: Huntington Valley 1 vs. Robinwood 2

3 p.m.: Costa Mesa American 1 vs. Ocean View 2

*First-round bye: Costa Mesa National 1

Area 2 (at Ocean View LL)

Noon: Robinwood 1 vs. Costa Mesa American 2

3 p.m.: Seaview 1 vs. Costa Mesa National 2

*First-round bye: Huntington Valley 2

Minor B Division

Area 1 (at Huntington Valley LL)

9 a.m.: Costa Mesa American 1 vs. Seaview 2

Noon: Costa Mesa National 1 vs. Ocean View 2

3 p.m.: Westminster 1 vs. Robinwood 2

Area 2 (at Ocean View LL)

9 a.m.: Ocean View 1 vs. Costa Mesa National 2

Noon: Robinwood 1 vs. Westminster 2

3 p.m.: Seaview 1 vs. Huntington Valley 2

Junior Division

(at Ocean View High)

9 a.m.: Fountain Valley vs. Ocean View 1

Noon: Robinwood vs. Ocean View 2

3 p.m.: Seaview vs. Huntington Valley 2

Monday’s schedule

Majors Division

5 p.m.: Costa Mesa National 1 vs. Seaview 2 (at Huntington Valley LL); Seaview 1 vs. Costa Mesa American 2 (at Ocean View LL).

Minor A Division

5 p.m.: Ocean View 1 vs. Westminster 2

Minor B Division

5 p.m.: Huntington Valley 1 vs. Fountain Valley 2 (at HVLL); Fountain Valley 1 vs. Costa Mesa American 2 (at OVLL).

Junior Division

5 p.m.: Seaview-Huntington Valley 2 winner vs. Huntington Valley 1

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Water Polo

Both the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club boys’ 12-and-Under and 10U teams took second-place finishes, and the club’s 14U boys’ blue team finished fourth, at the USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics qualifying tournament (Southern Pacific Area Zone) that concluded Sunday in Irvine.

Several members of HBWPC also participated at the National Team Selection Camps held in Orange County over Memorial Day weekend. Local players and coaches from the club were able to compete with some of the top players from across the nation and several were selected for a National Team based on their respective ages. Local players who moved on and are part of their respective National Team training rosters included: Jovan Jeremic (HBWPC, Huntington Beach High, National Youth Team); Alex Wolf (HBWPC, Huntington Beach High, National Cadet Team); Justin Harrison (HBWPC, Huntington Beach High, National Cadet Team); Elias Lule (HBWPC, incoming Huntington Beach High freshmen, National Developmental Team), and Nolan Strout (HBWPC, incoming Huntington Beach High freshman, National Developmental Team).

HBWPC had the second-most players nationally to be selected from Olympic Development Teams, to the National Team Selection Camps. The HBWPC athletes will train exclusively with their respective teams June 28-July 1 in preparation for upcoming international competition, Coach Brian Anderson said.

Anderson, who is head coach of the Huntington Beach High boys’ water polo program, was named to the Developmental National Team staff. Djoko Radunovic, who coaches the HBWPC 10U team which is one of the nation’s top-ranked teams for its division, was named to the Southern Pacific Zone staff.

“It’s an honor for these kids to be selected to these teams,” Anderson said. “Water Polo is the greatest and hardest sport in the entire world, and these athletes have proven they can compete with the country’s elite players and that our staff is committed to the development of our student athletes. I myself am honored to be working along side National Team coaches as a member of the National Team staff.”