Youth Scene: Yankees edge Tigers

A strong combined effort by four Yankee pitchers and good defense in support of the quartet led the Yankees to a 2-1 win over the Tigers Saturday in Ocean View Little League Major Division action.

Gavin Kells started the game for the Yankees (1-1) and allowed only one unearned run in 2 2/3 innings. Jake Alvarez completed the third inning and then threw a scoreless fourth. Andrew Bentley gave up no runs in the fifth, and A.J. Hurtado closed the game with three strikeouts in the sixth.

The Yankee pitchers were helped by several good defensive plays by their teammates. In the fourth where they were clinging to a 2-1 lead and a Tiger baserunner at first, Adam Bird ripped what appeared to be a sure hit for the Tigers (0-2) into right field. Yankee right-fielder Jack Pirooz caught the ball cleanly on a bounce and threw a strike to second base to get a force out. Bentley and Daniel Kotkosky provided excellent play behind the plate. In the fourth inning, Kotkosky threw out a runner trying to steal second base.

The Tigers’ Matt Hernandez also pitched well. In four innings, the Yankees managed to score only twice off the crafty Hernandez who used an assortment of off-speed pitches and fast balls to quiet the Yankee bats. Jake Reagan pitched a scoreless fifth inning for the Tigers.

Kotkosky led the Yankee offense with two hits (including one double), as well as scoring both Yankee runs. Hurtado had a single and Bentley doubled.

For the Tigers, Hernandez had two hits and batted in his team’s lone run. Also with hits for the Tigers were Reagan, Quentin Custodio (double), and pool player Luke Walpole (who scored the Tigers’ run).

— Reader submission