Mets, Cards decide crown

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Huntington Valley’s rise to a spot in the District 62 Tournament of

Champions Minor A Division championship game can be credited to

outstanding pitching and defense.

It’s not to say the Mets’ offense isn’t much of a threat; it’s just that

their defense has been the postseason catalyst.

Take Monday night for example, when Huntington Valley once again combined

powerful pitching with tough defense and came up with just enough on

offense to pull out a 3-2 victory over Fountain Valley in a well-played

semifinal showdown that was the Battle of the Mets.

The victory put Huntington Valley’s No. 1 team in Wednesday’s title game

against Robinwood’s No. 2 team, the Cardinals.

“Our pitching really has been outstanding,” Huntington Valley Manager

John Parmenter said of a three-man rotation of his son, Race Parmenter,

and the Barnes Brothers, Alex and Chase.

On Monday, Race Parmenter started and yielded just one hit, while

striking out five, before giving way to Alex Barnes to start the fourth.

Under heavy pressure, Barnes closed out the victory and match Parmenter

in both hits relinquished (one) and strikeouts (five).

Huntington Valley’s Mets scored all three runs in the second, getting

singles by Barnes and Marcus Breit, then a walk by Timmy Higgins.

That brought up Anthony Vidal to the plate, and he proceeded to deliver

two RBIs for a 2-0 lead. It became 3-0 moments later when Chad

Bhasboule’s infield looper toward shortstop brought in what turned out to

be the winning run.

Fountain Valley then brought in reliever Robert Johnson, who shut down

Huntington Valley the remainder of the game.

Johnson went on to record eight strikeouts, while surrendering just two

hits, a bunt single and a double by Parmenter.

“(Johnson) was throwing smoke and did an outstanding job for them,” John

Parmenter said.

Fountain Valley’s Mets, the No. 1 team out of their league, had their

comeback attempt thwarted by the defense of Huntington Valley’s Pablo

McBeth, and the relief pitching of Barnes.

It was the second one-run victory by Huntington Valley in as many games.

On Saturday, the Cubs got past the Robinwood Diamondbacks, 2-1, behind

the pinpoint pitching accuracy of Chase Barnes, and again, the defensive

play of McBeth, who made a diving, over-the-back grab on one play, and a

leaping catch of a line drive on another defensive stop.

In three postseason victories, Huntington Valley’s defense has allowed

just three runs.

“The Mets’ bats have been cold, but our pitching and defense has just

been incredible,” John Parmenter added. “These kids have done a great job

reaching the championship game.”