Moorpark Is Outweighed, Outplayed

Moorpark’s flight on the wings of an angel came to an end Wednesday night, grounded by the towering drives of burly boys from Panama City, Fla.

Moorpark could have advanced to today’s national championship game at the Little League World Series by winning or by holding Panama City to under seven runs in a loss. But a two-run home run in the fourth by Jeff Boutwell scored Panama City’s seventh and eighth runs in a game that eventually became a 10-2 rout before 15,000.

Moorpark (20-5, 1-2 in the series) finished tied for second with Cranston, R.I. in U.S. pool play, but Cranston advances under a tiebreaker formula because it allowed 15 total runs to Moorpark’s 18.

The large contingent of Moorpark fans cheered as hard after the final out as they had during the team’s unlikely ascent to four tournament championships and a World Series berth.

Not a tear was shed, by player or booster.

“They fought so hard, they did so great, there is no reason for sadness,” said Jayne Johnson, mother of Moorpark star Erik. “Why have tears when you’ve done your best?”

Moorpark’s best efforts were inspired by the memory of Joel Burchfield, a Moorpark Little Leaguer who drowned in a rain-swollen drainage canal Jan. 31. The players touched the large banner hung in the dugout as a tribute to their friend one last time, then went on the field and scooped infield dirt into plastic bottles to take home as souvenirs.

“We were thrilled to be here; we are the best in the West,” said Erik Johnson, who hit his only series home run in his last at-bat.

Moorpark scored a run in the top of the first, but the scales tipped in Panama City’s direction in the bottom of the inning when Jody Posey and Josh Cooper weighed in.

A home run by the 165-pound Cooper followed a sharp single by the 189-pound Posey in the bottom of the first. Chris Sison followed with a home run for a 3-1 lead.

Panama City (20-3, 3-0) added a run in the second but Moorpark’s Beto Macias came on to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam. The left-hander also retired the side in the third after loading the bases with one out.

The fourth inning proved to be Moorpark’s undoing. An error and a double by Posey put runners on second and third with none out and Cooper hit a drive to center field that Johnson caught at the wall. His throw home sailed over the head of catcher Keith Pabers, however, and two runs scored.

Moorpark knew the next run it allowed would be its death knell, but was powerless to stop Panama City. Sison doubled off the wall and Boutwell followed with a homer.

Cooper pitched a three-hitter, striking out five and walking one. Blake Sharpe led off the game with a single and Moorpark did not muster another hit until Johnson’s home run and a single by Michael Lopez with two out in the sixth.

Cooper drove in three runs, Sison was four for four and Posey had two hits and scored twice. Panama City had 13 hits against three Moorpark pitchers.

Leading, 10-1, with two out in the fifth, Panama City could have ended the game on the 10-run mercy rule on two occasions. Clete Thomas was told by Coach Dennis Sauls not to run from third on an infield single by Sison, or on a subsequent wild pitch.

The display of sportsmanship enabled Moorpark to bat in the sixth, and Garcia sent up pinch-hitters Kevin Rossen and Brandon Williams before Johnson homered to right center.

“That’s what this tournament is about right there,” Moorpark Manager Hector Garcia said. “The camaraderie among everyone is incredible. That was a class act.”

The Moorpark team will remain here for Saturday’s closing ceremonies and return home Sunday. A parade down High Street in Moorpark is scheduled.

Panama City, Fla., 10, Moorpark 2

Moorpark: 100 001 -- 2 4 4

Panama City: 310 42x -- 10 13 2

Pizzola, Macias (2), Burckin (5) and Pabers; Cooper and Sison.

W--Cooper.L--Pizzola.

2B: PC--Thomas, Posey, Sison.HR: PC--Posey, Cooper, Boutwell.

Records: Moorpark 20-5, 1-2 in series play; Panama City 20-3, 3-0.