La Verne Falls to San Dimas, Needs Win Tonight to Earn Rematch

It was that kind of day for La Verne. Griffin Mulvey squared this one up, but lined it right to the San Dimas first baseman for the first out of the fifth inning.

The La Verne 10-year-old all-stars on Thursday night at Henderson Field had less success than a pickpocket working an FBI convention. The same team that had scored 16 runs and then 19 runs the previous nights could score only five runs in losing to cross-town rival San Dimas, 15-5. In their last three innings of play, La Verne left the bases loaded three times.

“We weren’t throwing strikes, and we left the bases loaded in the third, fourth and fifth innings,” said Manager Jim Wolfe. “That’s a good team over there.”

It was a new experience for the La Verne 10-year-old all stars to be looking up hill. Normally, they’re the ones that jump out early, but San Dimas seized that role by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Lucas McGill did most of the damage for San Dimas with a two-out three-run double.

It was a day La Verne had more mound conferences than runs.

La Verne answered with one run in the top of the second on a one-out double by Matt Kurnik and one-run single by Nick Litwin.

In the bottom of the third, however, San Dimas struck with seven runs to blow open the contest, sending 11 batters to the plate.

La Verne got off the mat with four runs to close the gap to 12-5. It was Kurnik that got things going again with a lead-off single. Jared Serrano hit a pinch double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Pinch hitter John Martinez grounded to third, but Kurnik was thrown out at home. Tanner Siffert walked to load the bases, bringing up Nolan O’Laughlin, who doubled into left center to drive in two runs. Pinch hitter Randy Fertig followed with a two-run single.

La Verne battled until the end.

With La Verne threatening a monster inning, San Dimas brought in D.J. Woo who was able to retire the final two batter to chants of “Woo, Woo, Woo,” from the San Dimas faithful.

In the bottom of the fifth, San Dimas plated two more runs, and the game was suddenly over with the 10-run mercy rule invoked. La Verne would have to regroup and win on Friday to earn a rematch against San Dimas.

John Martinez crossed home plate but the run didn’t count when O’Laughlin flied out.

“I give San Dimas a lot of credit, said Wolfe. “They came out swinging. They earned the win. They definitely outplayed us in every aspect.

“But you know what, we have enough pitching and enough heart that I think we can come back and win this tournament.”

La Verne will be back on the field on Friday needing a win to stay alive.