Robinwood blasts off to TOC title

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Hitting home runs was common stuff this year for Kai Ross of the Robinwood Little League Major division Phillies.

At 5-foot-9, he towers over opponents and teammates alike. Comparing Ross to a counterpart on the major league Phillies, he’s Ryan Howard, just maybe not so husky.

Both players have the ability to hit no-doubt home runs. And both have now helped lead their team to a title.

Ross’ two-run shot Saturday morning helped lead the Phillies to a Little League District 62 Tournament of Champions title, 3-1 over the Ocean View Little League Red Sox at the Ocean View fields.

Yet, it was a total team effort. Ross hit seven or eight home runs during the regular season, Robinwood Coach Ken Laszlo said, but Jack Stergios didn’t hit any. That has changed in the TOC; Stergios hit a key homer in a quarterfinal win over Huntington Valley, and his solo shot Saturday in the sixth gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead and some breathing room.

“We have good team chemistry and a lot of talent on our team,� Stergios said. “I’m pretty excited [about the home runs]. I guess I just stepped it up a notch.�

And there was the pitching of starter Greg Fronek Jr., who struck out eight Red Sox in 4 1/3 innings. J.J. Muratore came in to close out the victory, helping the Phillies improve to 21-3.

“We knew it would be a tough game,� Laszlo said. “Ocean View always plays good baseball. We had to play well, which we did. We got some timely hits and great pitching … Greg pitched great. I was hoping he would go longer than 4.1 innings, but he did great. He only gave up one run, and Ocean View’s a great hitting team. He only gave up a few hits and we made the plays for him.�

Ocean View actually took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Luke Johnston singled and eventually scored, but Ross’ blast to center with Muratore aboard gave Robinwood a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the fram. The ball was a fastball that caught too much of the plate, a pitch that Ocean View Coach Alan Hurst would later call a mistake.

The Red Sox’ best chance to score again came in the top of the fifth. With Connor Hurst and Cameron Kaneko on, cleanup hitter Chris Hoffman hit a bullet to right field. But the Phillies’ Tyler Beyer came up with a big catch to keep Robinwood ahead.

“My heart stopped,� said Muratore, the Phillies pitcher at the time. “Then Tyler caught it.�

Connor Hurst also pitched well for Ocean View, striking out 10 in 4 2/3 innings. Jonathan Gorton had a single for the Red Sox.

Buzz Stafford also had a hit for the Phillies, as did Brandon Laszlo. Muratore said he and Laszlo were on the Minor B Astros team that won TOC a couple of years back.

But, for Ross, it was a new experience.

“I’ve never won,� Ross said. “I’ve always got eliminated in the first round, so it was good to finally win one. “

As for Ocean View, the magical run of three straight walk-off victories came to an end when Muratore retired the Red Sox in order in the sixth.

“We just didn’t have one more [comeback] in us,� Alan Hurst said. “We were one shy.�

Top players from both leagues will now prepare for the District 62 all-star tournament, which is scheduled to begin June 27.