Cardinals

9 & 10 Softball All Star District 36 Tournament is hosted by Manhattan Beach Little League and will be played at the Marine Complex West field located at 1751 Marine Ave. (cross street is Aviation.) Games begin July 5th.

Friday, June 22nd: Manhattan Beach White Sox wins theTournament of Champions! The Manhattan Beach International White Sox clinched the District 36 Tournament of Champions with a convincing win over the Palos Verdes Cubs, 10-0. This win capped a 4-consecutive-game winning streak for the White Sox, where wins are required in this single elimination tournament, played entirely at Clark Field in Hermosa Beach this year. The Sox played 4 games over the past 8 days, stretching the entire team, especially the Sox's revered pitching staff. This final game was called in the bottom of the 4th inning, as the White Sox batted in their tenth run. They held the Cubs scoreless through those 4 innings. The defense featured simply spectacular pitching by Will Deseran, with a complete game, one hit shutout. Deseran threw only 57 pitches and notched 9 strikeouts against the good hitting Cubs team. Contributing to the defense was catcher Nathaniel (NJ) Johnson, who called a great game from behind the plate. Zach Loversky, playing in center field, made an unbelieveable catch of a hard hit line drive, and should easily be the play of the week on Sports Center. Finally, Duncan McKinnon - completing what could be called a series MVP performance - made 2 over-the-shoulder catches from shortstop, ranging way out to short center field to rob 2 Cubs hitters of otherwise easy base hits. The Sox brought their usual strength to the plate, well honed after so many tournament games this past week. Deseran led the team at the plate today, going 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a triple, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs - combined with his pitching, easily a game MVP performance! Other scoring notes include Ryan Kawahara, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored; Zach Loversky, RBI and run scored; Nick Cayton, 2 RBIs and run scored; Austin Yamada, 2 RBIs; Max Tullio, 2 walks including one intentional walk to avoid his hitting reputation. After consecutive singes each by Jakob Balen, Jeffery DeCoste, and Daniel Simsonsen, Deseran smacked his final double, a walk off shot that scored Balen and DeCoste, as the game was called in the 4th after the White Sox stretched their lead margin to 10 runs. In today's game, every single White Sox batter reached base safely. Overall, this past week required a solid team performance with contributions by the players, coaches, and families. MB White Sox players: Jakob Balen, Nick Cayton, Jeffrey DeCoste, Will Deseran, Nathaniel (NJ) Johnson, Ryan Kawahara, Zach Loversky, Duncan McKinnon, Daniel Simonsen, Max Tullio, Alex Wiberg, Austin Yamada. The White Sox were lead by Manager Mike McKinnon, Coach Mark Deseran, and assistant coaches Matt Tullio and Gary Kawahara. The Tournament of Champions was an outstanding experience for the entire White Sox family, and they are proud to bring this TOC win home to Manhattan Beach! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, June 21st: Manhattan Beach White Sox advance to final round of Tournament of Champions! In another thrilling, down to the very last pitch victory, the Manhattan Beach International White Sox defeated the Silver Spur Mets by a score of 9-8 in six full innings. This semi-final win advances the White Sox to the final game - which will determine the Little League District 36 Minors Championship - on Friday, June 22nd! The White Sox - the visiting team for this game - took an early 4 run lead in the top of the first, with RBI-stole-home for Duncan McKinnon, followed with another by Will Deseran for another RBI and run. With bases loaded, Austin Yamada lined a 2 RBI single to center, and the Sox went to the field with a 4-0 score. Pitching for the White Sox remained a key element of their game, as pitchers Nick Cayton and Ryan Kawahara held the Mets sluggers to 6 runs, but the Sox faced a deficit, entering the 4th inning behind the Mets, 4-6. A 4th inning rally began with Duncan McKinnon stealing home after a long double, an RBI single for Kawahara to score Deseran, and a 2 RBI single for Max Tullio, and the White Sox regained the lead, 8-6! Superb pitching performances by Zach Loversky (a scoreless 5th), and Duncan McKinnon with another spectacular Save were required to hold down the Mets. After an insurance run by Will Deseran - scoring on 3 stolen bases after a leadoff single in the 6th, the White Sox went out defensively against the Mets, leading 9-7. The very tough Mets scored another run, and put the tying run at third and the winning run in scoring position at second base. The excitement and intensity were riveting, as over 100 spectators held their breath as McKinnon struck out the final Mets batter looking! The Manhattan Beach International White Sox are looking for your support at the final Tournament of Champions game, being played again at Clark Field in Hermosa Beach on Friday, June 22. We will be facing the Palos Verdes Cubs at 5pm. Please come out and cheer us to a District Championship! Go Manhattan Beach, and Go White Sox! _________________________________________________________________________________ Monday, June 18th: The Manhattan Beach International White Sox clenched an exhiliarating, come-from-behind victory over the El Segundo Cubs, by a score of 6-5. Playing at Clark Field in Hermosa Beach, this win advances them to the semi-final round of the Minors Tournament of Champions. Facing a 5-0 deficit after 3 innings, the White Sox rallied for 2 runs in the 4th, and 4 more runs in the 5th, while holding the hard-hitting Cubs scoreless in the 5th and 6th for this critical win. RBIs were scored for Max Tullio (RBI single), Austin Yamada (RBI single), Will Deseran (RBI single), Duncan McKinnon (RBI Stole Home), and Ryan Kawahara (2 RBI inside-the-park HR). Superb pitching by Nick Cayton and Duncan McKinnon - to White Sox gold glove catcher Will Deseran - was important as usual, but stellar defensive plays by NJ Johnson, Zach Loversky, Alex Wiberg, Cayton, Deseran and McKinnon helped underline a basically errorless defensive performance by the Sox. Please join us to help cheer the Manhattan Beach International White Sox to victory in the next game on Thursday, June 21st, at 7:30pm. We play at Clark Field in Hermosa Beach, and will be facing the team from Palos Verdes Silver Spur. __________________________________________________________________________________ The International White Sox opened the Minors Division of the Tournament of Champions with a 12-2 five inning victory over the Central Redondo Nationals on June 15th. Led by the solid pitching of Nick Cayton and Duncan McKinnon, the Nationals were held to two runs on two hits. The game was tight through four innings until the fifth when the White Sox exploded for 8 runs. The offense was led by NJ Johnson, who went 3 for 3, Duncan McKinnon, 1 for 1 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored and a game ending bases loaded double by Jakob Balen to drive in the final 3 runs. It was a total team effort and the kids enjoyed the tournament experience. The White Sox will play tonight, Monday June 18th, at 5pm at Clark Field in Hermosa against the team from El Segundo.

On Tuesday June 19th, the MLL Majors Mets were defeated by the Central Redondo Little League by a score of 5-4. The game was hard fought coming down to the last out. The Mets finished the ten team TOC Tournament in 3rd place and represented MLL well with good play and good sportsmanship. _________________________________________________________________________________ Saturday, June 16th, in the District Tournament of Champions, the MLL Majors Mets defeated the Silver Spur Majors Tigers by a score of 8 to 4 with a total team effort. The Mets will play again on Tuesday night, against Central Redondo Little League, at Clark Field (7:30pm). The Mets jumped out to a quick lead with five runs in the first inning. After an out, a single by Cameron Bartlett and a walk by Mark English put runners on base. A single by Jackson Casady drove in a run. Matt Jasaitas followed with an RBI ground out. Greg Briskin and Greg Whitaker then drove in the final three runs with consecutive singles. A single by Brian Wells and two doubles by Greg Briskin contributed to the final three Mets runs. Greg Briskin was the pitching star going five innings and 85 pitches. He surrendered two runs on a two-run home run. Carter Casady closed out the game with a solid inning of pitching. He also surrendered a two-run home run to the same Silver Spur player. Both pitchers were supported with solid defense by the entire Mets team. Cameron Bartlett made a diving catch of a ball in right field that should be shown on Sports Center. Kyle Cohen and Mark English contributed great plays at 2nd base, while Cater, Braden and Jackson Casady all fielded their position expertly. John Sullivan deserves special mention for fighting through a twisted ankle and a hit to the face to stay in the game and scoop balls at first base. ________________________________________________________________________________ The Mets represented Manhattan Beach Little League well last night (June 14th) in the Majors District Tournament of Champions tournament with a well played 4-2 victory over a very good North Redondo Little League team. The game started off somewhat frustrating for the Mets, as they left five runners on base over the first two innings with no runs to show for it. The Mets, though, kept their heads up and a combination of strong pitching from Greg Whitaker and excellent fielding from Carter Casady, Braden Casady, Greg Briskin, and John Sullivan kept NRLL off the board. In the top of the 3rd, the Mets started hitting line drives and put two runs on the board on hits by Jackson Casady, Greg Whitaker and Carter Casady. Jackson and Carter had ground rule doubles. NRLL came back with two runs in the bottom of the 3rd on an infield hit, walk, wild pitch and seeing eye single. In the Top of the 4th, the first two Mets hitters went down, but then Braden Casady hit one over the center field fence. Cameron Bartlett followed with a single, stole second and came home a triple by Jackson Casady. At this point, the NRLL starting pitcher had reached his 85 pitch count limit. He was relieved by a soft-tosser who frustrated the Met batters for the remainder of the game. In the bottom of the 4th, Carter Casady came in to pitch. He was very effective shutting the NRLL batters down over the last three innings and keeping his pitch count under 40. As such, he will be available to pitch on Saturday. Carter owes a big "Thank You" to his brother Jackson who reach over the center field fence to rob a home run. The next game for the Mets will be Saturday morning at 11:30am versus Silver Spur. The Majors TOC games being played in Hermosa Beach at Clark Field.

The Manhattan Junior League Champions, the Killer Tomatoes, defeated the Central Redondo Braves 23-2. In the Major League championship game, the Chill beat the North Redondo Softballers 8-0. The MB Pacific Champions, the B-52s, won a thriller against the Hermosa Beach Glaciers 8-2. And the MB Blasters of the National Softball League completed an undefeated season and captured the TOC Crown with a 5-1 win over the North Redondo Angels.

At the closing ceremony, on Saturday June 16th, the Manhattan Little League All Star Teams were announced. Here are the teams. The 9/10 All Star team will be playing in El Segundo beginning Saturday June 30th. Manager: Mike McKinnon Coaches: Chuck Meyer and Mark Deseran Players: Matt Beuder Bowen Boulliane Jason Clebowicz Will Deseran Kyle Grafton Nathaniel Johnson Ryan Kawahara Zach Loversky Duncan McKinnon Mitchell Meyer Will Proctor Dylan Tyrer Ryan Verbiest The 10/11 All Star team will be playing at Rolling Hills Little League beginning Saturday June 30th. Manager: Todd French Coach: Jon Smith Players: Greg Briskin Gregory French Cooper Griffith Willy Hock James Houston Danny Kelleher Thomas Lapham David Odle Justin Schottenhammer Jack Smith Jackson Vena Kyle Zucker The 11/12 All Star team will be playing at Marine Central in Manhattan Beach starting Saturday June 30th. Manager: Tim Bradford Coaches: Gus Cardenas and John Whitaker Players: Travis Bradford Gordon Cardenas Carter Casady Braden Casady Jackson Casady Jack Dulgarian Jack Hadley Christian Herrera Christian Macdonald Philip Prendergast Austin Schoff Grant Southwood Greg Whitaker Please check the MLL web for game times and field directions as we get closer to June 30th.