Early home run paves road to victory

Derek Cleland hit a three-run home run in the first inning and accounted for all of his team’s scoring Saturday as the Bruins held on for a 3-2 victory over the Sooners in Majors Division action at Huntington Valley Little League.

In Minor A Division action, Joe Yost hit a grand slam to help power the Bulldogs past the Titans, 14-5.

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Ocean View Little League

Majors Division

Orioles 5, Rockies 4: Elijah Blake hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to put the Orioles into the lead for good March 19.

The Rockies took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth, where Brad Monroe started the Orioles’ rally with a double. Kyle Newman singled to score Monroe and then the Orioles loaded the bases before Blake stepped to the plate. Blake’s single scored Grant Brehm and Newman. Landen Hill held the Rockies scoreless in the top of the sixth to complete the comeback.

Ben McConnell of the Rockies struck out four of six batters he faced in the first two innings. Monroe started for the Orioles and struck out six in two innings. Cole Minato singled and scored in the first inning to give the Rockies the early lead. Minato also singled in the third and scored again in the top of the third.

The Orioles tied the score in the bottom of the third when a two-run hit by Danny Duarte scored Ryan Welander and Blake. The Rockies went back in front in the fourth on a triple by Matthew Anderegg that scored Hunter Custodio, and an RBI single by Noah Hickman that put the score at 4-2.

— Rachel Blake

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Minor A Division

River Cats 4, Storm Chasers 3: The Storm Chasers took the early lead but hits by Luke Adelman, Micah Blake, Vincent Caiazzo, Ryan Esqueda and Dominic Ventimiglia helped rally the River Cats to victory on Saturday.

— Martha Ventimiglia

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Mud Hens 6, Knights 5: The Mud Hens took a 6-0 lead through four innings but had to hold off a big comeback by the Knights to earn the win on Saturday.

The Mud Hens received solid pitching, led by Chance DiMarco, Kyle Roeder, Nick Skorheim and Thomas Williams. Neither team could score through 2 1/2 innings but in the top of the third, Williams singled and Roeder walked and scored on a infield grounder by DiMarco as the Mud Hens opened up a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, singles by Skorheim, Zack Pratte and Roeder helped extend the lead to 6-0.

— Laurie Skorheim

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Bats 5, Redwings 3: The Bats took a three-run lead and later scored the game’s final two runs to get past the Redwings on Friday. (

The Bats’ Ed Pelc hit a three-run home run in the first inning for his third home run of the season. The Redwings came right back when Jaron Wallace laced a triple to left field and came around to score on a passed ball.

— Larry Reynolds

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Minor B Division

Mets 14, Naturals 9: The Mets and Naturals combined for 19 hits and 23 runs in a wild, five-inning game Saturday.

The Mets scored five runs in the first inning to build an early lead. Myles Lopez singled in both the second and fourth innings for the Mets. Six Mets combined for 10 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored. They also stole 10 bases, with Lopez, Jack Jernigan and Antonio Ventimiglia each getting two stolen bases. Miles Elliott, who had one stolen base, pitched two scoreless innings.

The Mets scored four more runs in the third inning. A single by Elliott started the rally and Ryan Idnani, who also had a stolen base, later picked up an RBI single.

Pierce Vitrano had a strong game at the plate for Naturals. Vitrano went two for three with a pair of singles and an RBI..

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Minor C Division

(no score kept)

Scrappers vs. Bees: The Scrappers came ready to play March 21. The team made fine plays in the field, including an amazing double play that left the crowd buzzing. Ezra Treskes and Sam Shuart helped the Scrappers at the plate, as well.

For the Bees, Ari Wallace and Sean Carlin had a strong day at the plate and Kyle Donoho also had some impressive hits and a big catch in center field. Carlin and Donoho each received the game ball for the Bees.

— Kevin Carlin

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National Junior Basketball

The Huntington Beach Basketball Club eighth-grade boys’ team won the All Net Division Sectional championship March 4. The team went 3-1 at the season-ending tournament. Huntington defeated La Mirada, 44-43, in the semifinals and Diamond Bar, 77-70, in the championship game.

Huntington entered the tournament with the No. 6-seed among 37 eighth-grade teams competing in pool play. Huntington finished the season 11-7 overall.

The team is: Spencer Wong, Alex Ballestros, Braden Meyers, Sean Elmore, Sean Morrissey, Matt Serven, Anthony Kiriaki, Andrew Palmer and coaches Mike Elmore and Bob Serven.