La Verne 12-Year-Old All Stars Pick Up Where They Left Off

Ice Carranza compiled 10 strikeouts mixing his fastball and curve.

Behind the strong right arm and 10-strikeout performance of Isaiah “Ice” Carranza, the La Verne Little League All-Stars cruised to an 8-0 victory over Pomona American at Ted Green Park in Pomona on July 7. La Verne also banged out eight hits, including a solo home run by Justin Gomez.

Manager Bobby Diebold was concerned that his team coming off a long layoff might have lost its keen edge.

“I was a little antsy to be honest,” Diebold said. “The kids were lighting me up in practice, but you never know about game time.”

Fortunately, La Verne removed any doubts about their state of readiness by scoring three runs in the top of the first by sending eight batters to the plate. Garrett Weiss nursed a walk to lead off the game and before the inning was over Robert Peterson doubled, Justin Gomez walked, Carranza singled in two runners, Joey Halbrin singled and cashed in another and Sean Heberer singled.

On the mound, Carranza was terrific. He had a biting curve ball that Pomona American could only flail at. “”They didn’t see the ball too well,” Diebold said. On the night, Carranza surrendered only two hits before turning the ball over to Tanner Diebold to close the game out.

After scoring a couple of unearned runs in the third inning, La Verne put two more up in the top of the fifth. Gomez led off with a homer, Carranza followed with a double and Halabrin knocked in Carranza with an RBI single.

Three of La Verne's hitting stars, from left, Justin Gomez, Ice Carranza and Joey Halabrin.

Pomona American had a couple of threats in the bottom of the third and fifth innings, but both times the rallies were cut short on some slick fielding from second baseman Weiss.

The game ended on a relay from Gomez at first to Heberer at third. The Pomona American runner was ruled out for diving into the bag head first.

Some fans got a little chippy and tried to rattle some of the La Verne players, which brought this post game advice from Diebold: “Stay focused, play your game, and we win.”

La Verne will test that formula for success this Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Ted Green field when playoff action resumes against San Dimas.

In his lead-off role, Second baseman Garrett Weiss had two base on balls to help pace La Verne

Robert Peterson cracked a first-inning double to help set the table for La Verne.