Cost + Mattress Game of th Week: La Verne’s 12-Year-Old Magic Continues as Team Edges West Covina American 4-3
Nick Johnson helped La Verne leave town with a 4-3 win after setting the side down in order in the bottom of the sixth.
The La Verne 12-year-old All-Stars exploded for four early runs, then held on late to nip Covina American 4-3 at Del Norte Park in the first round of the Section III tournament at West Covina on Saturday night.
In the top of the first with A.J. Woodall aboard, Anthony Cascarano hit a monster shot to right center that cleared a five-story high net. A tournament official said it was the first time in his six years of watching play at the ballpark that a batter had cleared the towering net.
Meanwhile, on the hill, Woodall was nasty as ever, striking out two of the four batters he faced.
In the top of the second, La Verne struck again. After Logan Zylstra walked and Jake San Miguel sacrificed him over to second, Chris Spencer whistled a two-run homer to left centerfield, giving La Verne a 4-0 edge.
In the field, La Verne was frustrating West Covina with the leather. Facing runners at second and third with just one out in the bottom of the second, Woodall reached high to spear a dying quail as he was following back on the mound and then spun around and threw to third to for the inning-ending double play.
Covina American finally broke through with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the big blow coming on a two-out, two-run single by Jimmy Padillo. La Verne’s Nick Johnson, however, protected the slim 4-3 lead by striking out the dangerous Zack Bromstead, hitting clean-up.
After La Verne went quietly in the top of the sixth, La Verne Manager Bob Spencer sent Johnson back out to the hill to get the final three outs to preserve the victory. Johnson did that with a big assist from shortstop Nick Peifer, who fielded three consecutive grounders before throwing out the runner each time. The last defensive play was the fielding gem that sparkled the brightest, as Peifer raced in to glove the ball and, in one continuous motion, gun the ball to first a fraction ahead of the speedy runner.
With the narrow win, La Verne reminds undefeated in post-season tournament play. Helmsman Bob Spencer appeared as relieved as anyone to escape with a first-round victory, especially after the bats fell silent late.
“Our pitching went the way we expected,” Spencer said, “but the hitting, we just kind of fell down flat.”
As good as La Verne bats have been, Spencer said the team’s pitching depth will determine how far the team travels in the tournament. “It still comes down to pitching; that’s what we’ll continue to work on.”
He won’t have to spend much time retooling the defense. “Oh my gosh, Nick Johnson (pitching) and Nick Peifer getting those three put-outs at short,” Spencer said. “I won’t tell you the truth what happened there …”
Whatever happened, Spencer and crew continue to push all the right buttons, and the post-season remains a magical tour that Houdini himself would applaud.
La Verne is back on the field on Sunday at 6 p.m. Catch the magic!
July 17th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
We are really proud of all the La Verne Little League All-Star!