Klimonology

Irvine team goes 6-0 to win Pony Tournament

The Irvine World News featured an article on the Irvine Blue team's win this morning. Unfortunately Aidan got shoved aside as apparently I was having quite the "Back to the Future" moment... <sigh>

Read about it here. You can catch all the "real" details in my post on the 25th.

Irvine Blue Goes 6-0 Wins Memorial Day Tournament

Irvine Blue went 6-0 over the Memorial Day weekend to win their flight in the Irvine PONY 19^th Annual Memorial Day Tournament.

Irvine Blue 15, Placentia Blue 4 – Andrew Dukus, Colton Nishida, Connor O’Brien and Anthony Nemeth combined for a 3-hit pitching performance that kept Placentia in check all evening long. While Jack Harney (3 for 3, 3 SB, 1 RBI) and Dukus (2 for 3, triple, 2 SB, 2 RBI) powered the offense.

Irvine Blue 13, Irvine Green 3 – Jacob Blanchet (pictured at left) pitched two scoreless innings while Quentin Watts (3 for 3, 2 doubles, 1 SB, 3 RBIs) and Nemeth (3 for 3, 2 SB, 2 RBI) keyed the offense.

Irvine Blue 14, Whittier B 13 – After going down early, Blanchet pitched two key innings to keep Irvine close long enough for the offense to take control. This time the bats were led by an incredible effort by Michael Rudin (3 for 3, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs) and Blanchet (3 for 3, double, triple, SB). But it all came down to a play at the plate with the tying run coming home. O’Brien threw a perfect strike to Nishida and Nishida executed a beautiful block and tag play at the plate to secure the victory for Irvine.

Irvine Blue 7, Whittier 0 – Jakob Ho, Watts, Rudin and Harney combined for a 2-hit shutout while the offense came up with a 5-run 5^th inning to propel Irvine Blue into first place in their pool and onto the path to the Championship game.

Irvine Blue 14, Whittier B 3 (Semi-Finals) – Dukus, Blanchet and Devin Lee combined for 4 innings of 1-hit baseball to dominate Whittier B in a rematch of the pool play game. After a couple of walks and errors allowed Whittier to jump to a 3-0 lead at the top 2^nd inning, Irvine came right back with Aidan Klimon (pictured at right) (2 for 2, 2 doubles, 1 BB, 2 SB, 5 RBIs) hitting a line drive double to deep center to score two and begin a 4-run rally to put Irvine on top. In the 3^rd inning, Nick Dougherty (1 for 2, double, 3 RBIs) stroked a beautiful bases-clearing double to start the rout and finally, in the 4^th inning, Klimon came back up with the bases loaded and two outs and hit another line drive double to clear the bases and complete the mercy.

Irvine Blue 10, Irvine Green 5 (Championship) – Irvine Green had dispatched Toluca Lake earlier in the day to secure their spot in the championship game, so regardless of the outcome the championship trophy would reside in Irvine. Lee started the game at pitcher and retired the side without allowing a run. This brought up Blue in the bottom of the first. Lee hit a dribbler back to the mound and was thrown out by Green pitcher Grant Lockwood coming off the mound and first baseman Ben Swanson making the stretch to bring in the ball for the out. O’Brien got on with a single past the 2^nd basemen and Nishida came up and drove a ball deep to right field for a 2-run inside the park home run that came down to a very close play at the plate. Blanchet hit a short fly ball to left field for a single and then stole second base. Klimon battled Lockwood before firing off a two-out single to center to score Blanchet. Irvine Blue 4, Irvine Green 0

Green was able to get one back when Lee walked the first two batters of the 2^nd inning before being relieved by Klimon. C.J. Treinen came around to score on a Josh Boothroyd sacrifice but Blue was able to put out the fire and end the top half of the inning. A Dougherty single allowed him to eventually come around to score in the bottom of the 2^nd on a Watts sacrifice but Lockwood sent the next three batters he saw down one, two, three.  Irvine Blue 5, Irvine Green 1

Klimon started out strong in the top of the 3^rd inning and got the first two outs, but an error and two walks loaded the bases. Fortunately for Blue, Nemeth came in to get the final out and render the base runners harmless. Nemeth then led off the bottom of the 3^rd against new Green pitcher Mark Rogers with a single to left. This began a 5-run Irvine Blue attack powered by singles by Lee, O’Brien, Nishida and a 2-RBI double by Dukus to cap the scoring. Irvine Blue 10, Irvine Green 1

Irvine Green was not going quietly however, as Sean McCray stroked a one-out single to centerfield to begin a 4-run rally capped by Connor Doden’s RBI single to right field. McCray, Boothroyd, Alex Suarez and Rogers all came around to score before Nemeth and Irvine Blue were able to bring the inning to a close. In the bottom of the 4^th, Rogers retired the three batters he faced one, two, three to keep the game within reach. Irvine Blue 10, Irvine Green 5

Nishida came on to pitch in the top of the 5^th inning for Irvine Blue. After a single, a walk and an error loaded the bases, Nishida struck out the next two batters to retire the side. Leonard Memon took the mound in the bottom of the 5^th for Irvine Green and despite two singles and a walk, was able to retire the side with a fielder’s choice and two strike-outs. Irvine Blue 10, Irvine Green 5

Dougherty (pictured at left) came on for Irvine Blue to attempt to close the game. After giving up a leadoff single to Boothroyd, Dougherty struck out the next three batters to retire the side and secure the championship for Irvine Blue. Irvine Blue 10, Irvine Green 5

Irvine Blue is Jacob Blanchet, Nick Dougherty, Andrew Dukus, Jack Harney, Jakob Ho, Aidan Klimon, Devin Lee, Anthony Nemeth, Colton Nishida, Connor O’Brien, Michael Rudin and Quentin Watts. Irvine Blue is coached by Lou Nemeth, Mike Dougherty, Enrique Blanchet and Jerome Harney.

Irvine Green is Josh Boothroyd, Nicholas Davidson, Con nor Doden, Connor Kentros, Grant Lockwood, Sean McCray, Leonard Memon, Kyle Robinson, Mark Rogers, Alex Suarez, Ben Swanson, C.J. Treinen. Irvine Green is coached by Jeff Doden, Jim Kentros and Mike Lockwood.

(Sierra Doden, Gabrielle & Zac after the game)

Cubs Fall 11-5 to Pirates, Take 2nd Place

This morning the Irvine PONY Pinto Kid Pitch Cubs fell to the Pirates 11-5. The Cubs fought valiantly, but the Pirates offense was overpowering, including a grand slam in the 2nd inning to tilt the score to 7-1 in their favor. Eventually the score stood at 10-5 in the top of the sixth. The Cubbies loaded the bases and with one swing could have been within two runs, but the Pirates closer Casey Kudell struck out two batters in a row to bring up the last batter for the Cubs and after a 6 pitch batter Ben Swanson made an incredible diving catch of a short pop foul to end the game and the Cubs season. The Cubs finish the Spring campaign 12-8 as the winners of the regular season and take 2nd place in the playoffs.

Cubs Continue to Roll, Defeat Angels 10-1

The Cubs continued their run through the tournament bracket today with a resounding 10-1 win over the Angels. The Cubs now get to face the Pirates for the fifth time this season. The Cubs started off strong, jumping on top of the Angels 5-0 in the 1st inning and adding another 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The final was 10-1 in favor of the Cubs and the reward is a rematch with the Pirates at 8am on Saturday morning.

Kyle Robinson (pictured at right) pitched two innings, throwing a total of 26 pitches, 22 of which were strikes and allowing only one run. Aidan Klimon went 2 for 2 with a 2-out 2 RBI triple and a walk.

Cubs Rally to Beat Padres 8-7

The Cubs played their second elimination game of tournament this evening and were able to come back from a 6-1 deficit to beat the Padres 8-7. The first three innings went very quietly behind strong pitching and defense by both teams as the Padres and Cubs could only tally one run each, but in the top of the 4th, the Padres broke through chasing the Cubs pitcher and notching five runs. The Cubs got one run back in the bottom of the 4th to make it 6-2, but were still chasing 4 going into the 5th.

Behind a strong pitching performance by Jakob Ho, the Cubs held the Padres scoreless in the top of the 5th and then started a scoring attack that was capped by a 2-out 2-RBI double by Aidan Klimon to give the Cubs a 7-6 lead.

The Padres came back and got one run in the top of the 6th to tie the game up, but the Cubs weren't done as C.J. Treinen (pictured at right) got a two-out RBI single to give the Cubs the victory!

Pop Rocks Walk-Off Double Wins IGSA 10U Championship!

(Photo courtesy of Tim Avazian)

In a scene reminiscent of their previous match-ups, IGSA 10U Pop Rocks came from behind to beat the Firecrackers for the 10U championship on a walk-off double. The Firecrackers had come from behind to beat the Pop Rocks earlier in the double-elimination tournament to force the Pop Rocks to fight through the “Loser’s” bracket for a shot at the championship. But this time it was for the championship and the Pop Rocks would not be denied.

The first inning opened with Lauren Avazian on the mound for the Pop Rocks. She showed great control and poise in sending down the Firecracker batters: one, two, three. The Firecrackers sent Maddie Kraus to the mound in the bottom of the first. The Pop Rocks were able to get their leadoff hitter on the bases before the Firecrackers got the next two batters out. This brought up cleanup hitter Kennedy Kings was able to single to get on base. Gabrielle Klimon singled to move Kings over and Kings was able to come home on a wild pitch before Kraus struck out Avazian to end the inning. Pop Rocks 2, Firecrackers 0

The Firecrackers sent seven batters against Avazian in the top of the second inning, but the Pop Rocks defense was up to the challenge and only allowed one of the baserunners to score. Defensively the Firecrackers were on fire as pitcher Kraus struck out three to hold the Pop Rocks scoreless. Pop Rocks 2, Firecrackers 1

The third inning was silent on both sides as Avazian and Kraus continued to pitch well and sent each of their sides down in turn. Pop Rocks 2, Firecrackers 1

The fourth inning featured new pitchers for both teams as Alyssa Cadanova took the mound for the Pop Rocks against the top of the Firecrackers order. The Firecrackers were, well, on fire and they reeled off four runs in the top of the inning, but the Pop Rocks were not sitting idle as they turned three walks and three singles into four runs to retake the lead against pitcher B.J. Jarvis. Pop Rocks 6, Firecrackers 5

As the day grew long and the girls grew tired, neither team's pitchers (Kings for the Pop Rocks and Christy Kelly for the Firecrackers) could find the strike zone consistently as both teams reeled off four runs off of seven batters. At the end of five, the Pop Rocks held a lead, albeit a slim one. Pop Rocks 10, Firecrackers 9

The sixth inning brought Avazian back to the mound for the Pop Rocks and Kraus back to the mound for the Firecrackers. A double and a walk got Avazian in trouble, but she was able to settle down and strikeout the next batter for the first out. Another single scored a run before Avazian got her second strikeout of the inning. This brought up Jasmine Jackson with two runners on and two outs. The Pop Rocks need to hold the Firecrackers here to maintain a tie, but Jackson was not interested in a tie and took the first pitch she saw deep to left center for a three run home run to put the Firecrackers on top by three runs. The Pop Rocks were devastated but still had their final at bats. Avazian led off with a single before Kraus struck out Garyn Maggio. Then three consecutive walks to Keila Goulding, Sarah Nishioka and Gia Almanza loaded the bases and pushed a run home. Cadanova hit a single that scored Goulding and brought the Pop Rocks within one run. That brought Logan Prock to the plate with one out and two runners on. Prock took the fourth pitch she saw to short right field for a 2-run walk-off double to end the game and clinch the championship for the Pop Rocks!  Pop Rocks 14, Firecrackers 13

The Purple Pop Rocks are Gia Almanza, Lauren Avazian, Samantha Butcher, Alyssa Cadavona, Keila Goulding, Kanna Inoshita, Kennedy Kings, Gabrielle Klimon, Garyn Maggio, Sarah Nishioka, Logan Prock and Danielle Ray. The Purple Pop Rocks are managed by Chris Butcher.

Pop Rocks Win! Pop Rocks Win!

(Photo courtesy of Tim Avazian)

Gabrielle's 10U softball team, the Pop Rocks, took home the 10U Championship today with an amazing come from behind win capped by a walk-off 2-run double to win it all. More details and a full write-up coming soon!

Cubs defeat Dodgers 7-5 to Stay Alive

While the Pinto Kid Pitch Cubs took the regular season championship with a record of 9-6, they backed into end of season tournament by dropping their last two games. Unfortunately their first game of the tournament came against the surging Pirates, and the Pirates handed the reeling Cubs their third loss in a row. That put the Cubs into an elimination game against the Dodgers (who had take fourth place during the regular season). Every game from this point forward is a win or go home situation. After the 1st inning, the Cubs were down 4-2 but, powered by a 5-run 3rd inning and some inspired defensive play, the Cubs pulled out a 7-5 victory to stay alive in the playoffs.

Matthew Telles (pictured at right) went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and four RBIs to power the resurgent Cubs attack.

Cubs Fall 12-9 to Giants, Still Take 1st Place

 (photo courtesy of Johnny Ho)

The Cubs lost a heartbreaking game to the 3rd place Giants to end the regular season, but still ended up 9-6 and the regular season division champions! Congratulations to the boys on their hard work this season. The Pinto Kid Pitch division is dominated by 8 year olds, so much so that of the 66 players in Pinto Kid Pitch, only 12 are seven year olds. The Cubs had 6 of them. Coach Jeff Doden did a great job getting everyone to play together as a team all season long. GO CUBS!