Youth Scene

Al’s wins NHBA Pony League Championship Al’s New York Pizza Cafe won the Newport Harbor Baseball Association Pony League Championship May 25 with a 15-5 victory over Outback Steakhouse.

Al’s earned the right to compete for the title with a win the previous night over undefeated Outback in a thrilling 5-4 contest. On Monday with the game still tied after regulation play, Al’s Garrett Hall threw a perfect top of the eighth, striking out two of the three batters he faced to hold Outback. Al’s Mark Grace doubled to lead off the bottom of the extra inning eighth. Two outs later, with Grace still on second base, Trent Dill delivered a clutch walk-off double to score Grace and end Outback’s winning streak and force the deciding game. It was Al’s 4th extra inning victory in the tournament. Dill also pitched a seven inning gem, battling Outback’s pitchers Keaton Cablay and Steven Faulconer, allowing only two earned runs while striking out six.

In Tuesday’s Championship, Al’s Nolan McCarthy pitched a complete game, combining with catcher Wyatt Zalewski who masterfully anchored duties behind the plate for the entire Championship Tournament. McCarthy and Outback’s Chad Redfearn engaged in a 3-2 pitching duel until the bottom of the 4th when Al’s scored five runs. Outback scored two runs in the top of the 6th to close in, but Al’s answered by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the 6th to put the game away and win the Championship.

Al’s hitting was led by Chris Croxton’s three singles, a triple by Kaden Ebbinga, doubles by Grace and Travis Martin, followed by Zalewski, Hall, Chris McCann, and A.J. Sanchez, who all recorded singles.

Outback also had exceptional play in the championship game and throughout the tournament by Austin Byram, Alex Fuller, Jake Giffin, Jake Hastings, Max Kline, Ryan McCully, Logan Miller, Trevor Schwartz, and Austin Smith.

Newport Lightning Basketball Club Boys 5th Grade AAU Basketball The Newport Lightning Boys 5th Grade team went 3-1 to finish second place in the Swoosh Memorial Day Classic at Edison High School in Huntington Beach.

The Lightning beat PD Basketball from RSM, CA 50-32 and Rock Solid Swoosh from Anaheim, CA in pool play to advance to the semi-finals on Sunday where they faced a tough Basic Basketball team and prevailed 31-29 heading into the finals.

In the championship game they lost a back and forth battle to Surf City Swoosh 47-59.

The Lightning were led by the stellar all-around play of Mitch Haly and Collin Pipkin who led the team in scoring. Chase Garbers and Jacob Jones provided a defensive presence throughout the tournament and added timely scoring. Will Rodosky, Luke Vafiadis, Connor Kincaid and Will Ueberroth all played well throughout the tournament.