Huntington Valley, Ocean View on collision course

A year ago, the Ocean View All-Star team began its summertime journey to ultimate glory in Williamsport, Pa., by winning the local Little League District 62 All-Star Tournament championship. This year’s All-Star tournament is in its opening week and several teams in four divisions are still in the hunt for district titles.

The district tournament continues Thursday, resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday and enters championship-round action Monday.

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Majors Division

Huntington Valley 25, Westminster 0: Huntington Valley’s explosive offense came up with 25 runs on 29 hits in rolling past Westminster on Tuesday. Derek Cleland went four for four with a two-run home run, Werner Reither hit a grand slam and another home run in going two for two, Jake Adams hit a three-run home run, both Michael Marquez and Ethan Kemp went four for four, and Will Morton went two for two.

Kemp also threw two scoreless innings and both Nick Morlett and Brian Rodriguez each pitched an inning.

Undefeated teams Huntington Valley and Ocean View, both 2-0 in the tournament, square off at 5 p.m. Thursday in a winners’-bracket game at Mile Square Park. Defending district champion Ocean View was a 7-2 winner Tuesday over Seaview. Eric Krueger hit a two-run home run for Seaview, which suffered its first tourney loss.

Huntington Valley 3, Robinwood 2: Huntington Valley scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning to win Saturday in a game highlighted by strong pitching and defensive performances by both teams.

Huntington Valley scored its first two runs in the bottom of the first when Austin Heberden lined a single and Derek Cleland drew a walk, and both went on to score on a double to right-field by Brian Rodriguez. Huntington Valley scored its final run four innings later when Nick Morlett started the bottom of the fifth with a single and Luke Glascoe followed with a bunt single. One out later, Jake Adams hit a pitch that bounced off home plate and dribbled up the third baseline. Morlett had taken off from third on contact and scored on the play.

Cleland pitched a complete game to earn the win. He gave up two runs and six hits and struck out seven without a walk.

Seaview 13, Costa Mesa National 3: Seaview used three home runs and a one-hit pitching effort to earn a big win over Costa Mesa National on Saturday.

Seaview trailed early, 3-0, but turned the tide when Adam Slavik hit a two-run home run, followed by a towering grand slam by Spencer Bazer that put Seaview in front for good at 7-3. Eric Krueger later delivered a three-run home run and he teamed on the mound with Riley Haddon to turn in a one-hitter.

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9/10 All-Stars

Robinwood 20, Costa Mesa American 0: Andrew Baldwin, Caden Kendle and Shane Stafford combined for a no-hitter and Jacob Vogel hit a solo home run as Robinwood rolled to a tournament-opening victory Saturday.

Robinwood 4, Ocean View 3: Rocco Peppi hit two home runs Monday and Robinwood picked up its second tournament win by edging Ocean View. Andrew Baldwin started on the mound for Robinwood and Peppi and Andrew Sojka closed out the game.

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10/11 All-Stars

Ocean View 8, Robinwood 0: The pitching rotation of Colton Myers, Daniel Williams, Sean Muirhead, Hunter Baclig and Cole Minato teamed for a two-hit shutout as Ocean View started tournament play Saturday with a win. Ocean View scored its eight runs on nine hits. Minato had four hits and Myers and Andrew DeCarlo each had two hits.

Ocean View 11, Westminster 0: Behind the pitching of Justin Robinson, Danny Smith, Jason St Pierre and Andrew DeCarlo, Ocean View registered its second two-hit shutout victory of the tournament Monday. DeCarlo also had three hits, Cole Minato and Elijah Blake both had two hits and Daniel Mayorga capped Ocean View’s 11-hit attack with a three-run double.

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8/9 Division

Ocean View 11, Robinwood 1: Matthew Wilson didn’t allow a hit through four-plus innings and closer Ryan Carles retired the final batter to put the finishing touches on a no-hitter, as Ocean View downed Robinwood in game halted by the mercy rule Saturday. Ocean View lead-off hitter Jake D’Amico had two hits and scored three runs and additional clutch hits came from Carles, Nick Dagarin, Nick Madole and Matthew Wilson.