Aliso Viejo quiets Newport Beach bats

ALISO VIEJO — No heads were down Wednesday night for the Newport Beach American Little League Majors Division All-Star team.

Manager Bart Thomsen wasn’t having it.

True, NBALL had just lost its first game of the District 55 Tournament in the winner’s bracket semifinals. Newport Beach was even shut out, 8-0, by Aliso Viejo National at Woodfield Park. But Thomsen made sure there was plenty of clapping after the game regardless.

He addressed his players, going over the positives each one showed in the game and reminding them they were still 2-1 in the district tournament. And, he told them, “This is a little detour on the path to Williamsport [Pa., the home of the Little League World Series].”

Newport Beach American now has a losers’ bracket quarterfinal game against either Laguna Beach or Lake Forest on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

“We knew coming in [Aliso Viejo was] probably going to be the best team in the tournament,” Thomsen said. “We knew we were going to have to play a great game to beat them, and we just didn’t play a great game. I’ve got to give them credit. They hit well, they played great defense and they pitched well. So, we’ve got a little bit longer road now.

“Now we’re going to have to come around and beat those guys twice,” he added with a hint of a grin. “It’ll make it that much more exciting when we do.”

Thomsen’s squad doesn’t really want to see Justin Fowler again, though. Fowler went the distance on the mound for Aliso Viejo, scattering five hits — all singles — and striking out 10.

Newport Beach did get a hit in every inning except the fourth. Alex Moore was two for two, and Ben Humphreys also reached twice on a single and a walk. Brett Olson and Kevin Thomsen had Newport Beach’s other hits, while Gannon Bond also reached on a hard-hit ball in the infield.

Newport Beach starting pitcher Clay Chatham also pitched well, although Aliso Viejo got three runs in the second inning. Two were unearned, however, on a dropped fly ball that would have been the third out.

Aliso Viejo got back-to-back home runs from Steven Harrison and Nathan Cole to start the third, and Chatham had to exit after straining his back when he made a play on a come-backer.

“He was throwing the ball hard,” Bart Thomsen said. “He was pitching well. He got a little unlucky on a couple of defensive plays, but he was doing what we needed him to do to give us a chance. I was really proud of him. He was hitting his spots.”

Newport Beach used Jake Favreau, Tyler Duncan and Olson in relief. Bart Thomsen said Tommy Brooks, who made a standout play at third base Wednesday to record an out, would start at pitcher in Sunday’s game.

 In other District 55 action Wednesday, the Newport Beach American Little League 10-11 year-old All-Stars lost a tough game to Laguna Hills, 6-4, in another winner’s bracket semifinal at Woodfield Park.

Sherwin Gersten was two for three with a double for Newport Beach, which came back from a 4-1 deficit before Laguna Hills scored twice in the sixth.

Will Hinkleman had a hit and made several dazzling defensive plays at shortstop. Also getting hits for Newport Beach were Cameron Hook and Max Kline, and Kevin Fults had an RBI.

Newport Beach has a losers’ bracket quarterfinal game on Sunday at 4 p.m., against either Newport Beach National or Aliso Viejo American.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].