This past weekend the O.C. Sun Devils continued their
dominance in the 8U division with a 4-0 championship performance in the Triple
Crown San Diego Sizzle tournament. The Devils outscored their opponents 57-5 to
win their fourth tournament in five tries. Playing with a summer vacation
depleted squad, the boys controlled each game they played in while having some
fun on their first road trip as a team.
The San Diego Sizzle tournament was the last opportunity to qualify for the Triple Crown Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Saturday, the boys opened up against the Ventura County Batbusters. Pitchers Aidan Klimon and Jackson LoBianco combined to baffle the Batbusters with a 1-hit shutout while Klimon helped his cause with a bases-clearing double and four RBIs and third baseman Anthony Nemeth twice just missed getting the ball out of the park, knocking in three runs in the 20-0 victory. In their second game, the Devils’ pitchers and defense again dominated the opposition as Grant Lockwood and Nemeth held the Prime Time Stingers to a single unearned run on five hits. The boys’ brilliant defensive play in the 13-1 victory was highlighted by Nemeth combining with second baseman Will Rudy and first baseman Jake Lappin on a 5-4-3 double play to end the first inning and catcher Klimon gunning down two runners in the second inning.
The boys took on the Chula Vista Greensox in their first game on Sunday. The fans from Chula Vista were a bit contentious, but quieted down as the Devils took control of the game and didn’t look back. The well-rested Devils continued their hit parade with 12 runs on 13 hits. Centerfielder Jake Nadley had four RBIs on two hits while Lappin contributed another two RBIs on two doubles. Pitchers Trevor Klein and Rudy combined to allow only two earned runs on five hits in the 12-4 victory.
Lappin took the mound for the championship game against SWAT Baseball Club. After going 2-0 in pool play SWAT had to come from behind to beat the Prime Time Stingers 9-8 to reach the championship game. SWAT got one unearned run across in the top of the first inning but that was the last time that they would hold a lead in the game as the Devils batted around once and scored nine runs on four walks and five hits in the first inning. The Devils gave up another unearned run before completing the 12-2 mercy in the fourth inning. Of particular note were shortstop Connor O’Brien’s bases-clearing triple in the first and a beautiful sacrifice bunt in the third inning and Klein and Klimon both going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Outfielder Matthew McClure also showed patience and a great eye when he came back from an 0-2 count to work a bases-loaded walk in the first inning.
