Cubs win big over Dyrness

SOUTHWEST GLENDALE — There was no quit in the Glendale Dyrness Automotive little league baseball team, even after the Burbank Cubs jumped out to an eight-run lead in the first inning of a preliminary-round game of the Tri-City Major Baseball Tournament at Pacific Park on Saturday afternoon.

The mercy rule was in effect, as the Cubs won the game easily, 13-3. Dyrness refused to go down without a fight, though, after being down by 10 runs going into the third inning. The win advanced the Cubs in the Tri-City Tournament and ended Dyrness’ season, knocking them out of the tournament.

The Cubs got off to the perfect start. Anton Preather led the Burbank squad on the mound and retired the side in order to start the game, thanks to two strikeouts and a diving catch from his center fielder, Brandon Valenzuela. Preather finished the game with a perfect stat line, after not allowing a base runner in two innings of work, while striking out four batters.

Pitching was the difference for the Burbank squad, as three different Cubs pitchers combined to hold Dyrness to three runs.

“Pitching is one of the strengths on this team, it has been throughout the season,” Cubs Coach Lewis Oberlander said. “We’ve been talking about containing these teams, keep their runs down and that’s what they’ve done all year.”

Preather’s teammates backed him up, manufacturing eight runs in the first inning. The Cubs capitalized on three Dyrness errors and recorded five hits in the frame. Preather, Riley Hooper and Blaine Traxel each singled in a run in the frame. Chris Moore and Hooper each drove in two runs on a single and double, respectively, as the Cubs batted around in the first.

The Cubs scored two more runs in the second inning to go up, 10-0, without recording a hit, thanks to two Dyrness errors and a walk. The game was all but decided when Dyrness came up to bat in the top of the third inning, but the Glendale squad was determined to go down swinging.

Darrien Green got Dyrness on the board with a booming shot over the left fielder’s head that went for a run-scoring double.

“It felt pretty good getting that hit,” Green said. “I was excited and got a little rush. I hope I do it again next time.”

Dyrness would scratch out one more run before the inning was over on a wild pitch.

The Cubs answered back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third for a 13-2 lead. Scott Breslin drove in two runs with a double and Austin Oberlander drove in one more run with a double in the third.

Chris White of Dyrness came to the plate with one out in the top of the fourth and his team needing a run to keep the game going. He sent a deep drive to center field that just bounced off the center-field fence, but it didn’t matter, as White came around to score on an inside-the-park home run to end the scoring at 13-3.

“I just wanted to know if it was out,” White said. “I looked at it but I didn’t really know if it was out or not.”

“Those hits from Darrien Green and Chris White came just in time, at least to get us a score,” said Dyrness Coach Mario Green.

It was an all-around effort from the Cubs, as seven of their players had hits and six drove in runs.

“I always felt when we first got this team together that all of these guys are like 11 all-stars,” Coach Oberlander said. “I still feel that way today. We’re confident in all of these guys.”

The Cubs will play their second game of the Tri-City Tournament against Glendale Auto Body at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in Tujunga.