Ocean View, Huntington Valley secure spots in District 62 final

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Clay Morris’ defense may have let him down in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s Little League District 62 All-Star game.

Fortunately for the Huntington Valley Little League division All-Stars, Morris’ approach to the game never does.

He came back, pitching five strong innings as Huntington Valley handed Robinwood its first loss of the tournament, 5-4, at the HVLL fields.

The game gave both teams one loss, so they met again Wednesday night at 5:30. Huntington Valley won, 7-0, and advances to play Ocean View Tuesday night. Huntington Valley will need to beat Ocean View twice in a row to claim the title.

Ocean View, coached by Tod Minato, got past Seaview, 3-2, in another semifinal.

“The five inches between his ears, that’s the strongest thing he’s got,” Huntington Valley Coach Rick Johnson said of Morris. “He doesn’t let those things bother him. An umpire not giving him a strike, an error behind him, he still comes back and says, ‘Come on batter, what have you got?’ That’s his strong suit, his ability to stay focused on what he’s supposed to do, and that’s why we put him on the mound today. We had plenty of options, and we picked Clay because of his mental approach to the game.”

Huntington Valley, which had lost to Robinwood, 6-1, in a second-round game Sunday, took an early 2-0 lead Tuesday. First baseman Pierson Loska hit a solo home run in the second, and Morris would eventually score on a ball hit by Kyle Coburn.

Robinwood stormed back in the third, with just one hit — an RBI triple by Kyle Frattali — but taking advantage of three Huntington Valley errors.

“I was thinking, ‘We’ve got to get the bats going, we’ve got to start hitting the ball,’ ” Morris said. “I had confidence in our team.”

And Huntington Valley did just that, as Tyler Murray (solo home run) and Jake Scott (two-run shot) both connected in the bottom of the frame to give Huntington Valley a 5-4 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

“Our No. 1 through 6 batters have a lot of power,” Loska said. “If our No. 7, 8 and 9 batters can get on, we can score those runs. Today, our top of the order came through, and so did our bottom of the order. That’s how we won.”

Huntington Valley’s George Gleason came in for the save in the sixth, retiring Robinwood in order. For Robinwood, Will Levin walked twice and scored a run. Ryan Lefevre had the only other hit.

“We only had two hits, and you need to have more than that,” Robinwood Coach Scott Winks said. “But it’s Little League, and it’s a one-run game and anything can happen ... we just need to be one run better than them [today].”

In the earlier 6-1 Robinwood victory over Huntington Valley, HVLL pitcher Sean O’Toole gave his team an early lead with a homer. But Kai Ross then settled in nicely for Robinwood, finishing with 14 strikeouts. Grant Vis had a grand slam to help lift Robinwood, and Frattali added a homer.

 The Robinwood Junior Division All-Stars opened the tournament with a 6-2 victory over Fountain Valley. Robinwood pitcher Hayden Winks threw a complete game, allowing just three hits.

Robinwood’s hitting attack was led by Spencer Fowler, who hit a two-run homer, and Winks also had a pair of hits. Patrick Griley also chipped in with a run-scoring double.

 The Ocean View and Robinwood 9 & 10-year-old division All-Star teams stormed into the finals undefeated.

Ocean View topped Seaview, 17-6, in one semifinal, while Robinwood outlasted Fountain Valley, 8-4, in the other.

 Huntington Valley was set to face Costa Mesa National in a 10 & 11-year-old division All-Star semifinal Wednesday evening, after press time.

The winner of that game will advance to the district final Wednesday at Westminster. The loser will play either Ocean View or Seaview in another elimination game Tuesday.

District 62 All-Star Finals

 Little League (11-12) Division

Ocean View vs. Robinwood/Huntington Valley, Tuesday at Huntington Valley. If Ocean View loses, “if necessary” games would be Wednesday and Thursday at same site.

 10 & 11 Division

Costa Mesa National/Huntington Valley vs. Ocean View/Seaview, Wednesday at Westminster. “If necessary” game would be Thursday at same site.

 9 & 10 Division

Ocean View vs. Robinwood, Tuesday at Huntington Valley. Since both teams are undefeated, second game will follow Wednesday at same site.

 Junior Division

Westminster vs. Seaview/Robinwood, Tuesday at Westminster. If Westminster loses, “if necessary” game would be Wednesday at same site.

*All games scheduled for 5:30 p.m.