Blue Flames

Manhattan Beach Minor All Stars, the comeback kids!!!   After losing their first game of the double elimination tournament, our minor All Star team has now won five games in a row.  In last night’s victory, this amazing team needed to come back twice to finally win the game 9-8.  Trailing 5-0, the boys scored 3 runs in the third inning and 4 runs in the fourth inning to claim a 7-5 lead.  Palos Verdes scored a run in the 5th to make it 7-6 going into the last inning.  In the top of the inning, the PV All Stars scored 2 runs to reclaim the lead.  Manhattan Beach needed one run to tie the game and two runs to win.  Michael Sandoval, who had already had two hits, led off the inning beating out an infield groundball.  Ian McLaughlin, then ripped his fourth hit of the game into the right field gap and off the fence to drive in the tying run. With the winning run at second with no outs, the next batter hit the ball to the right side of the infield, to advance the winning run to third with one out.  The Palos Verdes pitcher then struck out the next batter to record a huge out.  With two outs, it was up to the left fielder, Gordon, “Gordo” Cardenas to decide whether the game would go into extra innings or not.  On a 3-1 fastball, Gordon hit a line drive up the middle that gave Manhattan Beach the game, 9-8!  The entire Manhattan Beach bench unloaded and mobbed Gordon as he returned from 1st base with as big of a smile a boy could ever have.   The Minor All Star’s next game is Saturday at Marine Sports Park Center field at 11AM against El Segundo.  El Segundo is the team that beat Manhattan Beach, 11-10 in the first game, so this is sure to be another classic.  The winner of this game advances to the Championship game Monday evening at the same field. Todd Coyle MLL Board Member and Minors All Star Manager ____________________________________________________ July 8, 2004 The majors won big.  The final score was not   something like 9-3. If you were there and can write up what happened, send a note to dennisjkane@yahoo.com. ____________________________________________________ July 6, 2004 The Major All Stars rallied for a thrilling 5-4 win over El Segundo Tuesday night to advance in the District 36 Tournament.  The Majors Stars will play Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Complex. The Minor All Stars advanced in the 9 & 10 year old Division.  The stars hung on for a 4-1 victory over Silver Spur Tuesday night.  The Minor Stars will also be playing Thursday night at 6:30 at the Complex. Manhattan's 11 year old Stars played well but were defeated 4-0 at the hands of El Segundo in the 11 Year Old All Star Tournament.  Congratulations to manager Bob Collins and the 11 year old Stars for a good showing during the tournament.  Great job guys! Bill von Behren President, MLL

We are in the process of closing registration, but you might still be able to sneak in. The current timetable is - Deadline - activiity 7/3 - close registration 7/5 - teams are formed, contact managers, distribute rules 7/9 - families have been contacted by managers 7/11 - final cleanup of rosters due to parents' concerns or changed minds Week of 7/12 - team meetings, equipment and uniform distribution if they have arrived. Managers collect medical release forms and checks from those that haven't paid. 7/17 - First Game The leagues will play the following schedule - Cal - Thurs 6:00, Sunday afternoon (1:00& 3:30) Coast - Tues 6:00, Sunday afternoon (1:00 & 3:30) Int'l - Wed 6:00, Saturday 10:30 and 1:00 First game - Sat. July 17. Last game - Thurs. Aug. 26 A total of 12 games and 4 teams per league.A number of parents have been asking about MBLL's plans for the summer. The League will provide the following baseball programs for kids ages 7-10 that played in a previous MBLL season - International Review/Preview - This will consist mostly of 2004 league age 10 and 9 year old Coast players that may be transitioning to International League next year. This league will play International rules (4-ball walks, live ball steals, stealing home). Some 2004 International players that will be returning next spring and are in need of a review may want to participate. Coast Review/Preview - 2004 league age 9 and 8 year-olds that will likely play in Coast, our first level of kid pitch, next year. Rules include 5-ball walks and limited steals. This league will be a good mix of returning Coast players and kids graduating from Cal League. If your 9 year-old has already played Coast, but would like more chances to pitch, or could use some review, this is the league to pick. Cal Review - 2004 league age 7 year-olds that will be playing their 2nd year of Coach Pitch next year. Please note that the program is limited to players that registered and played in a previous MBLL Spring season, ages 7-10 by July 31, 2004. We are using online registration exclusively for this program. To register, go to summer.mbll.org If you have any trouble with registration, contact dennisjkane@yahoo.com Todd Coyle, a former MBLL president has a number of good ideas about forming teams based on the kids' school enrollment. Panthers vs. Dragons sounds like more fun than Red vs. Navy Blue. We expect the season to run from the 3rd week in July through the month of August. Sign up now!

Manhattan Little League's 9 & 10 Softball All Star Team defeated the North Redondo All Stars 17-2 to win the District 36 Championship last night at the Marine Sports Complex.  The team displayed great pitching, strong defense, balanced hitting and lightening speed on the bases while dominating the game from the outset.  Tori Jasuta, one of three 9 year old stars on the team, pitched a complete game striking out the side in the last inning to nail down the victory. Manhattan's 9 & 10 Year Old Stars will now advance to the Section 3 All Star Tournament hosted by MLL, commencing on July 16 at the Marine Sports Complex.  Congratulations to the Manhattan Stars and their manager, Dennis Lanfre', and coaches Larry Humphrey and Chris Barry!  Go Stars! Bill von Behren MLL President

The Manhattan 2 entry in the 9 & 10 Softball All Star Tournament came back from a 14-3 deficit, but fell one run short to lose in a heartbreaker, 18-17, to North Redondo Wednesday night in the semifinals of the District 36 Tournament at Marine Sports Complex West.  The Manhattan 2 Stars had the bases loaded when the final out was made.  It was a tremendous team effort and this Manhattan Little League team, made up of all 9 year old All Stars, played their hearts out in a nail biter against the mostly 10 year old all star team from North Redondo. Congratulations to all of the players and their manager Jeff Lambert and coaches Rob Lucenti and Les DiLeva for an unforgettable display of spirit and determination.  You made the League proud! The Manhattan 1 Stars, MLL's other entry in the 9 & 10 Year old Division, will now take on the North Redondo stars in the Championship Game of the 9 & 10 Year Old Softball District Tournament on Friday, July 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Marine West.  Please come out and support our Stars. Bill von Behren MLL President

Manhattan Little League's Majors and Minors Champions have both captured the District 36 Tournament of Champions Crowns for 2004. The Purple Haze, winners of Manhattan's Major Softball League this season, defeated Hermosa Beach's Cool Blue 15-1 in 4 innings to take the Majors TOC crown.  The Purple Haze, under the guidance of their manager Jack Gard and coaches Kip Hammond and Matt Saunders, dominated the tournament with run away wins over Central Redondo and Hermosa.  Congrats to the Purple Haze! Manhattan's Blue Angels, MLL's Pacific champ, prevailed over Hermosa's Panthers, 15-5 in 5 innings to take home the 2004 Minor League Softball TOC crown..  Congratulations to the Blue Angels and their manager Larry Humphrey and coach Craig Wesser, who soundly defeated Central Redondo the previous day to advance to the TOC finals. Both games were played at the Marine Sports Complex before a large, boisterous crowd of softball supporters. Bill von Behren MLL President VP of Softball