Eteamz.com/Paseo Verde Little League: 2008 Western Regional Tournament

Thursday, August 14
WHEN YOUNG STRIVERS FALL SHORT

Henderson team in bid to go where no Nevada squad has gone learns ‘lessons’ that may be overrated for athletes of their age

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Paseo Verde All-Stars pitcher Michael Blasko walks off the field after the final out as the team from Waipio, Hawaii celebrates its 4-3 win in the western regional championship game of the Little League World Series Sunday.

By Ron Kantowski

Tue, Aug 12, 2008 (2 a.m.)

San Bernardino, Calif. — With all due respect to Tom Hanks and his movie alter ago, Jimmy Dugan, there is crying in baseball. I saw it with my own eyes Sunday night.

There is jumping up and down and hugging your teammates and forming a pile in the middle of the diamond as if a free Xbox 360 were on the bottom of it, too — which is what the kids from Waipio, Hawaii, were doing after defeating the ones from Henderson’s Paseo Verde Little League, 4-3, in the winner-goes-to-Williamsport game, aka the Little League Western Regional championship game.

They made the Henderson kids stand to one side of the pitcher’s mound and said nice things about them on the public address system, such as it’s too bad two teams from the Western Region couldn’t go to Williamsport, etc.

It was a nice gesture, what you’d expect at this level, where the way you play the game is supposed to be more important than how many runs you score. And yet it seemed a little cruel, too, because a few moments later, just when most of the Henderson kids had stopped crying, they handed the banner to the Island kids, who starting jumping up and down all over again.

Finally, ESPN said the Henderson kids were free to go. They trudged off the field in single file down the right field line, out of view of the cameras toward the Hawaiian Shave Ice stand — which seemed a little cruel, too — and, finally, the parking lot, where dads draped arms across shoulders and moms supplied hugs, and brothers and sisters — for once — were sympathetic.

Yeah, I know. The Henderson kids will learn one of life’s lessons from this, the one about life throwing you a curveball with the bases loaded that you don’t hit over the fence, because, occasionally, life’s curveballs are meaner than Bert Blyleven’s. Even if you’re 12 and have never heard of Bert Blyleven.

But if you’re much older than that and watching all of this unfold — and you’ve got at least one sympathetic bone in your body — your first thought is that some of life’s lessons would be better learned when you are 17 or 18.

Jim Kelly, the middle school math teacher who has been coaching the Henderson kids since they began hitting a baseball off a tee, stopped on the warning track to explain the game in baseball terms. Our kids had too many errors (although my score card showed just one), he said. Swung at too many pitches in the dirt.

Then he tried to explain it in broader terms. That a Nevada team had never made it to Williamsport, and that this one had come within one run of making history. And that he got to coach his son, Griffin, whose two-run home run in the third inning had tied the big game at 3-3, and how cool was that?

At that point, it looked certain the Henderson kids would win, because that was the second consecutive home run they had hit off the Hawaii relief pitcher who had come into the game when Khade Paris, Waipio’s big kid who looks like a 12-year-old version of the Milwaukee Brewers’ C.C. Sabathia, seemed to hurt his arm.

Plus, Henderson had its big kid, Michael Blasko, on the mound, and he was throwing bullets like Tatum O’Neal in the “Bad News Bears.”

But because this was baseball, strange things were bound to happen.

In the fourth inning, the Hawaii second baseman, named Kainoa Fong, the smallest kid in the lineup, who had started the game in right field — isn’t that where the Bad News Bears tried to hide Timmy Lupus? — raced into short right field with Henderson kids perched on second and third and speared the ball in the webbing of his glove, which came up to his elbow. Little Fong spun ’round in the same motion and threw to first to complete a play that Dan Uggla would have messed up three different ways.

In the bottom of the fourth, Pikai Winchester, the Hawaii third baseman who slept with his bat the night before the game, took the second pitch he had seen all night and did exactly what he did to the only other pitch he had seen, whacking it on a flat line over the left-field fence and into the hospitality tents at Al Houghton Field.

So in the sixth inning, the Henderson kids, down to their last out, sent Blasko to the plate in one of those Casey-at-the-Bat moments that baseball always seems to provide, even in a game in which none of the players shaves.

Everybody expected the big kid, whose career batting average is about .850, to hit the ball over the fence. But he didn’t, and then the Henderson kids had a good cry in the middle of the diamond, because there is crying in baseball.

Afterward, I met Mike Blasko, the big kid’s old man, who said sometimes when you are 12 or 13, it’s tough being the big kid, and this was definitely one of those times. His precocious son was standing nearby, talking to new friends and signing autographs for old men. You could tell he was upset, but his chin was up.

Maybe that was because it had to be, to support the giant Joba Chamberlain-style brim of his ball cap. Or maybe it was because he had already learned that lesson about life the grown-ups were talking about.

“He’ll be all right,” Michael Blasko’s dad said. “He’ll probably be asleep by the time we hit the freeway.”



Monday, August 11
PASEO VERDE'S BID END ONE GAME SHY OF WILLIAMSPORT

So close, yet so far away.

Henderson-based Paseo Verde Little League was defeated 4-3 by Hawaii’s Waipio Little League Sunday night in the finals of the Western Regionals in San Bernardino, Calif., one win shy of becoming the first Nevada team to reach Williamsport, Pa., and the Little League World Series.

Paseo Verde’s Michael Blasko struck out 14 batters, but yielded a pair of home runs to Pikai Winchester, including a game-winning solo shot in the fourth inning.

Paseo Verde joins Green Valley Little League clubs of 2001 and 2003 who lost the finals. A Nevada representative has participated in the regional since 1957, but still hasn’t had a team reach Williamsport and youth baseball‘s biggest stage.

“Losing like that is tough,” Paseo Verde manager Jim Kelly said. “We were one run away from Williamsport.”

Paseo Verde played catch-up all night as it fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. Winchester had the big hit for Hawaii as he connected on an opposite field two-run home run.

After leaving the bases loaded in the second inning, Paseo Verde tied the game in the third on a two-run home run from James Anderson and solo shot from Griffin Kelly off Hawaii reliever Tanner Tokunaga.

But Tokunaga settled down to allow one base runner the rest of the game and Winchester’s second home was the difference. It was first loss in 17 summer games for Paseo Verde, a group of children ages 11 to 13 who outscored regional opponents 46-18 entering the final.

Blasko, who struck out 15 of 16 batters he faced in a 4-1 victory against Hawaii in pool play, couldn’t duplicate the success. He also hit three home runs in a pool play victory against Utah, but grounded into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded in the second in the finals and struck out to end the game.

“(Michael) was dominant again. I don’t think they had his number,” Kelly said.

The game, played in front of more than 10,000 fans at Al Houghton Stadium, was televised on ESPN2. Even in defeat, it was a memorable way to end the summer.

“It was one of our dreams to get here and we made it,” Blasko said.

By Home News · August 10, 2008 · 10:10 PM



Monday, August 11
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE FOR PASEO VERDE KIDS

By Ron Kantowski · August 11, 2008 · 3:15 PM

Losing 4-3 in the championship game of the Western Region championship game with a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., riding on the outcome had to be the disappointment of a young lifetime for the Paseo Verde Little League team from Henderson.

But at least the local kids didn't lose an eye in San Bernardino.

One of the things that San Bernardino is famous for is that's where Sammy Davis Jr. was treated when lost his left eye in an automobile accident in 1954 on a return trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

The Rolling Stones also played their first U.S. concert in San Bernardino, at the Swing Auditorium on June 5, 1964.

Not that any of that matters to the Henderson kids. They probably just wish the team from Waipio, Hawaii, would get off their cloud.

----- In case you're wondering, Waipio is a town of 11,672 residents situated in Honolulu County. Waipio means "curved water' in Hawaiian. The entire town consists of 1.2 square miles.

----- As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, one of the highlights of my San Bernardino trip was seeing several people in the grandstands sporting Ken Hubbs League T-shirts. Hubbs, from nearby Colton, Calif., played in the 1954 Little League World Series with his hometown team and was the 1962 National League Rookie of the Year for the Cubs. He played just one more season before being killed in a light plane crash near Provo, Utah, before the 1964 season. Pall bearers at his funeral included Cubs greats Ernie Banks and Ron Santo.

----- Al Houghton Stadium, which was purpose built to host the Little League regional tournament in 1971, has held up well. It even has real dugouts that stretch from home plate to midway down the outfield foul lines, complete with bullpens for pitchers to warm up. The stadium was used in the filming of "The Perfect Game" about a team from Monterrey, Mexico, that traveled without shoes to Williamsport in 1957 and became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.

----- But the 49 decorative concrete baseballs outside the stadium were put there for a purpose said Jim Gerstenslager, the Little League region director. "I put those in because I was having trouble at night with kids coming and jumping the curbs with their cars and doing donuts and messing up my parking lot," he told the Riverside Press-Enterprise, proving that some things never change.

----- With ESPN calling the shots, deciding who could get on the field and who had to wait, the game smacked of a Major League Baseball production -- except that it wasn't blacked out. But after the game, as they began packing up the cameras and lowering the cranes for the TV lights, a little girl was doing cartwheels on the hill just beyond the center field fence -- further proof that some things never change. And thank heaven for it.

----- Two more good things about the Little League West Regional: They didn't charge to get in (you should have seen how many older baseball fans, with no rooting interests in the teams, turned out). And nobody chattered "Hey batter, hey batter, suh-wing batter," like in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

----- The game didn't start on time, and nobody seemed to know why. But then some somebody said they saw Eduardo Perez, who was doing the game for ESPN2, standing near the concession stand with a funnel cake the size of the on-deck circle, and that probably explained it.

THEN:

Like most kids who were born during the Baby Boom era, or slightly after, I played Little League baseball. But what I remember most about those games was choosing up sides after they were over and playing without grown-up supervision until it got dark.

Then we went home with giant grass stains on our uniform pants.



Monday, August 11
HAWAII EDGES NEVADA
West champs now head to World Series in Williamsport
T.J. Berka, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/10/2008 10:54:02 PM PDT

Photo Gallery: Hawaii vs. Nevada

SAN BERNARDINO - The last time a Hawaii team qualified for the Little League World Series - Ewa Beach West Oahu in 2005 - it emerged as a champion.

It would be extremely premature to predict a world championship for the Waipio Little League team, but after beating Michael Blasko and an extremely talented Nevada Henderson Paseo Verde team 4-3 in the Western Regional title game Sunday at Al Houghton Stadium, the Hawaiians will carry a ton of confidence to Williamsport, Pa..

Blasko, who struck out 15 Waipio batters in a 4-1 pool play victory earlier in the tournament,

Waipio Little League pitcher Tanner Tokunaga celebrates after striking out Nevada's Michael Blasko to win the West Region championship. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
had his fastball working again Sunday, striking out another 14 Hawaii batters.

But in the rare instances that Hawaii - or to be more accurate, third baseman Pikai Winchester - hit the ball, good things happened. And those good things have Hawaii set to play New England champion Shelton (Conn.) Friday in the first round of pool play.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," Hawaii coach Timo Donahue said. "These kids just find a way to win. Facing (Blasko) the first time really helped us for this game. We found out that his fastball was hittable if we had the right frame of mind."

Winchester, one of the few Waipio players who was not on the 2007 Western Regional qualifier - certainly had that frame of mind, hitting line-drive home runs to left field in both at-bats against Blasko. The first home run, a two-run shot following a walk by Caleb Duhay, gave Hawaii a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning while his second dinger, a solo shot to lead off the fourth, provided Hawaii with the game-winning run.

"I don't know whether Michael hung up some breaking balls or if the kid is just a good fastball hitter, but he hit Michael well," Nevada coach Jim Kelly said. "Those homers were the difference."

Hawaii's other run came in the first and was set up by the aggressiveness of shortstop C-Boy Donahue. Donahue led off the game with a single to center and advanced to third on a passed ball and a grounder before a Blasko wild pitch brought him home.

Donahue skillfully evaded Blasko's tag on the wild pitch, which was quickly followed by Duhay's walk and Winchester's two-run bomb.

While Winchester's home runs - and Donahue's slide - were highlight-reel plays, relief pitcher Tanner Tokunaga was perhaps the most important player for the Waipio squad.

Forced into action with one out in the third inning to replace erratic starter Khade Paris - who struck out six batters and walked five in a rollercoaster outing - Tokunaga's initial experience Sunday was rocky, as he gave up back-to-back homers to James Anderson and Griffin Kelly.

The dingers, a two-run shot by Anderson and a solo homer by Kelly, quickly tied the game at 3. But Tokunaga wasn't going to let his early struggles define his performance.

"I wasn't worried," Tokunaga said. "I told myself that it was only the third inning and that there was plenty of time to go."

Tokunaga only gave up three hits after the home runs, striking out five - highlighted by a strikeout of Blasko for the game's final out.

"Tanner did a great job of overcoming those early home runs," Donahue said. "He did a better job of locating his pitches after that."

Hawaii also got a big play from Duhay at second in the top of the fourth with the score tied 3-3. With runners on second and third and two out, Duhay ran into the grass in short right field to snare a sharp groundball by Josh McCollum. He gathered himself and threw out McCollum, keeping the score tied and setting the stage for Winchester's go-ahead blast.

Winchester a fast learner

Michelle Gardner, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/10/2008 10:48:40 PM PDT

Photo Gallery: Hawaii vs. Nevada

SAN BERNARDINO - Hawaii third baseman Pikai Winchester is about the only player at the Western Regional Little League tournament that solved the mystery that was Nevada pitcher Michael Blasko.

Blasko struck out 15 of the 22 hitters he faced the first time the teams played in pool play and fanned another 14 in the second meeting Sunday. But Winchester cranked two home runs off him to lead Waipio Little League of Hawaii to a 4-3 victory in the championship game Sunday in front of 10,000 spectators at Al Houghton Stadium.

Hawaii manager Timo Donohue thought having faced Blasko before the pivotal game helped, even though his team lost, 4-1.

"It helped to see him once," Donahue said. "They realized it wasn't as big a deal as we were hearing. He is a great pitcher but I don't think we were intimidated like a lot of teams are by him."

It was just the second time Winchester hit two home runs in one game, the first coming in state tournament play. He did have a home run in a 12-2 pool play win over Utah but wasn't having a particularly good tournament and was 0-for-2 against Blasko in the first meeting and 0-for-2 in Friday's semifinal 8-0 win over Northern California.

He was a bit modest when asked about his success this time around.

"I just stuck the bat out," he said.

"We knew he was going to throw fastballs so we tried to be ready."

Both of Winchester's home runs came on the first pitch and both were to left field. His first came in the opening frame after Caleb Duhay walked with two outs. Christian Donahue had singled and scored on a wild pitch so Winchester's shot upped the lead to 3-0.

The manager said getting to the Nevada pitching star early helped his team relax.

Winchester's second shot proved to be the winning blow. It came leading off the fourth and snapped a 3-3 tie. Blasko then struck out the side but it was too late.

Donahue also said experience helped since most of his players were on the team that played in the event last year which was won by Arizona. Ironically, Winchester was one of the few players who weren't on the team.

"He's 12 years old. He was nervous just like they all are," Timo Donahue said. "We just told all the kids to go up there and stay confident. We have had kids come through at different times. Tonight he was the guy."

 

Sunday, August 10, 2008 7:10 PM
Tournament game at San Bernardino, CA (Neutral site)
LLWSCH1

HAWAII Waipio LL 4, NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 3

Score123456RHE
NEVADA Henderson, NV 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 5 1
HAWAII Waipahu, HI 3 0 0 1 0 X 4 4 0

NEVADAABRHBI HAWAIIABRHBI
#18 Blasko, M., P 4 0 1 0   #5 Donahue, C., SS 3 1 1 0
#13 Keiser, J., LF-3B-RF 1 1 0 0   #25 Paris, K., P-1B 3 0 0 0
    #25 VanStone, T., SPR 0 0 0 0   #14 Andrade, J., LF-RF 2 0 1 0
#44 McCollum, J., C 3 0 0 0       #9 Ling, T., LF 1 0 0 0
#45 Anderson, J., SS 3 1 2 2   #12 Duhay, C., CF-1B 1 1 0 0
#28 Kelly, G., 1B 3 1 1 0       #1 Yap, M., PH-LF 1 0 0 0
#2 Grenier, C., 3B 2 0 0 0   #3 Winchester, K., 3B 2 2 2 3
    #25 VanStone, T., PH-CF 1 0 0 0   #8 Akau, I., C 2 0 0 0
#75 Kulla, J., RF-LF 2 0 0 0   #32 Obedoza, K., 1B-RF-CF 1 0 0 0
    #25 VanStone, T., SPR 0 0 0 0       #10 Ulep, J., CF 1 0 0 0
#3 Farmer, S., CF 1 0 0 0   #27 Tokunaga, T., 2B-P 2 0 0 0
    #51 Goodwin, R., LF 1 0 0 0   #13 Fong, K., RF-2B 0 0 0 0
#30 Dobrolecki, C., 2B 0 0 0 0       #4 Farm, U., LF 1 0 0 0
    #11 Clelan, D., CF-RF-PH 2 0 1 0      Totals20443
Totals23352            

E: #45 Anderson, J.   HR: #3 Winchester, K. 2, #45 Anderson, J., #28 Kelly, G.  

NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF HAWAIIIPHRERBBSOBF
#18 Blasko, M. (L) 5.0 4 4 4 2 14 22   #25 Paris, K. 2.2 0 1 1 5 6 12
Totals5.044421422   #27 Tokunaga, T. (W) 3.2 5 2 2 0 5 16
                 Totals6.153351128

WP: #25 Paris, K. 4, #18 Blasko, M.   PB: #44 McCollum, J., #8 Akau, I.   Pitches-strikes: #25 Paris, K. 60-27, #18 Blasko, M. 85-60, #27 Tokunaga, T. 64-45  

Start: 7:10 PM; Game time: 1:43; Attendance: 10,000
Game officials: John Halloran, Bill Kinsella, Dan Vierthaler, Richard Gallardo

Brian Lopez (LF); Max Cannon (RF)

Jocelyn Welch (Book); Cheryl Smith (Computer); Cheryl Hoy (Spotter); Gary Yoshinaga (Pitch Counter)

Clear, Light Breeze, 85 Degrees

ESPN with Mark Neely and Eduardo Perez

 



Monday, August 11
"THEY HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF"
Henderson Little Leaguers just miss World Series

By JOHN MURPHY
SPECIAL TO REVIEW-JOURNAL
Slideshow

 
Michael Blasko struck out to end the game Sunday for the Paseo Verde Little League team of Henderson in the West Regional in San Bernardino, Calif.
Photo by Jeff Debry/Special tot the Review-Journal.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Jim Kelly is a math teacher by trade and a baseball coach on the side.

Judging by the reaction of his Paseo Verde Little League team of Henderson to Sunday night's heart-wrenching loss, Kelly is teaching his players more than how to hit the cut-off man.

Hawaii upset Paseo Verde 4-3 before 10,000 fans and a national television audience on ESPN2. The West Region title-game loss was about as disappointing as one can imagine for a group of preteen kids.

No Nevada team ever has made the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Instead it will be Waipio LL of the islands heading to Williamsport and not Nevada, which came in with a 5-0 record here in Southern California. But if there were any cross words uttered or equipment thrown, it wasn't audible or visible.

"I'm going to tell our kids to keep their heads up," Kelly said. "They have a lot to be proud of. These weren't kids we recruited or anything like that. They're just from the neighborhood, and they worked hard, and we had a great run, and we won a lot of stuff."

Trailing by one run in the sixth and final inning, Paseo Verde pitcher/slugger Michael Blasko came to the plate representing his team's last chance for a region title and a trip to the World Series.

Hawaii pitcher Tanner Tokunaga bent at the waist behind the mound and said a quick prayer. Then, with fans in San Bernardino and across the country watching, Tokunaga struck out Blasko swinging to end the game.

The Paseo Verde kids watched helplessly as the Hawaii players danced to the middle of the field and dissolved into a happy dog pile.

The broad-shouldered Blasko had allowed only four hits in five innings -- two of them home runs by Pikai Winchester -- and he had struck out 14 while walking two. He also hit a single.

After the game he wasn't even through, showing enough poise and class to comment on the game. Teammate Derek Clelan joined him.

"Overall, I think I did good, but they just had a good hitter (Winchester) who hit two home runs," Blasko said. "I threw him a couple of fastballs, and he hit them over the fence.

"But this whole thing was fantastic. We got to play on ESPN and in front of all these fans. It was like a dream."

Clelan, who had one of Nevada's five hits, agreed.

"It was a great experience," he said. "We got to play before the whole nation on TV. It was so great. Hawaii was a good team. We became friends with them here. They're cool."

The scrappy gamers from Hawaii were cool customers to start the game, scoring three off Blasko in the first inning, highlighted by Winchester's two-run home run over the left-field fence.

But burly Hawaii left-hander Khade Paris was feeling pain in his arm and was wild throughout his 60-pitch, 2 1/3-inning stint. Manager Timo Donahue lifted him with a runner on and one out in the third.

Paseo Verde immediately took advantage, getting a two-run home run by James Anderson and a long solo home run one batter later by Griffin Kelly.

Both homers came off reliever Tanner Tokunaga, a thin right-hander with average speed.

"I thought we'd knock him out," Jim Kelly said. "I told our kids to take a strike against him, but they kept swinging at curveballs in the dirt.

"(Hawaii) only scored four runs. We usually score more than that."

Tied 3-3, Nevada put runners on second and third with two out in the fourth. Josh McCollum hit a hard grounder to the right side, but Hawaii second baseman Kainoa Fong ranged to his left, barely gloved the ball with one hand and then whirled to throw out McCollum at first.

"That play saved two runs," Donahue said.

Hawaii scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fourth. Winchester led off with a home run over the left-field fence, much to the delight of the Waipio throng along the third-base side.

"That felt good," Winchester said. "I felt good at the plate tonight."

Paseo Verde managed only one hit over the final two innings against the resurgent Tokunaga.

Anderson led Paseo Verde at the plate, with two hits and two runs batted in.

The Henderson team was only the fourth in West Region history to make the title game. The others were Green Valley LL of Las Vegas in 1983, 2001 and 2004.

"We came within one run of making the World Series," Kelly said. "That's something to be proud of."

 

Henderson team loses bid for Little League World Series

Palo Verde Little League of Henderson came up short in its bid to become the first Nevada team to advance to the Little League World Series, losing to Waipio, Hawaii, 4-3 Sunday night in the West Region semifinal in San Bernardino, Calif.

Pikai Winchester hit two home runs for Waipio, including a tie-breaking shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

James Anderson and Griffin Kelly had home runs for Palo Verde, which had won five straight games in the tournament before Sunday night's loss. Mike Blasko (2-1) was the losing pitcher, despite striking out 14 batters in five innings.

Waipio becomes the 10th team from Hawaii to reach the World Series, played every August in Williamsport, Pa.



Sunday, August 10
NEVADAS TRIP TO PA IN SIGHT
John Murphy, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/10/2008 01:28:22 AM PDT

The Paseo Verde Little League team of Nevada, under the glare of the prime-time lights, will try to make history.

No Nevada team has ever won the West Region and advanced to the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

The team from Henderson will have that chance at 7 p.m. today when it takes on Waipio LL of Hawaii at Al Houghton Stadium. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.

"It will be a tough game," said Paseo Verde manager Jim Kelly, a middle school math teacher by trade. "Both teams will have their top pitchers going and it may come down to one mistake defensively."

Paseo Verde will start the hard-throwing Michael Blasko on the mound. He is the fastest pitcher in the tournament.

"You don't see a kid like him every year," Hawaii manager Timo Donahue said. "But they're also a good hitting team. Khade (Paris) will have to keep them off balance."

Paris is Hawaii's big left-hander who is in his second year pitching for the Waipio all-stars.

Nevada is also led offensively by Jesse Keiser, who had two home runs in a 14-8 semifinal win over Arizona; catcher Josh McCollum; first baseman Griffin Kelly; and utility player James Anderson.

Nevada has outscored opponents by a combined 46-18 in five games here in San Bernardino.

Hawaii is strong on the mound and defensively. The Waip io team also runs well.

Offensively, Hawaii has not erupted the way Donahue would like. In a 2-1 pool-play victory

against Northern California, Hawaii was no-hit.

"Hopefully we'll score some runs and Khade will hold them down - that would be the best-case scenario," said Donahue, a Wahiawa Station police detective. "We need to keep up the intensity for all six innings and get good pitching and use good pitch selection offensively."

Hawaii has moved Jedd Andrade into the cleanup spot in the batting lineup. He responded in an 8-0 semifinal win against NorCal with two doubles and three runs batted in.

Other players to watch for in the Hawaii lineup are Christian "C-Boy" Donahue, Iolana Akau, Caleb Duhay, Keelen Obedoza and Tanner Tokunaga.

Tokunaga had a two-run homer against NorCal.

The winning team will leave San Bernardino for the airport and its trek back East for the World Series at 2:30 a.m.



Saturday, August 9
PASEO VERDE LL A HIT IN THE SEMIS
Henderson club coasts into region final; Williamsport one win away

By JOHN MURPHY
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Paseo Verde Little League coach Jim Kelly teaches math at Miller Middle School in Henderson.

His skills come in especially handy when his team is piling up runs like it did Friday.

The Henderson squad's offense was again in high gear during a 14-8 victory over Arrowhead LL of Glendale, Ariz., in the West Region semifinals at Al Houghton Stadium.

The victory propelled Paseo Verde into the region championship game against Waipio, Hawaii, at 7 p.m. Sunday, with a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., on the line. The game will be shown live on ESPN2.

"This means a lot," said Paseo Verde third baseman/pitcher Jesse Keiser, who had two homers among three hits. "We'd like to be the first Nevada team to go to Williamsport. Green Valley did good last year, but we would like to go farther."

Green Valley was eliminated in the 2007 region semifinals.

Paseo Verde avoided that fate by scoring in five of six innings, including a five-run uprising in the fourth to grab a 10-6 lead that held up.

"The kids have been dreaming about this for seven years, since they were in T-ball," said Mike Blasko, father of slugging Paseo Verde ace pitcher/shortstop Michael Blasko.

At 5 feet 7 inches, 160 pounds, Michael has been compared by a longtime Little League observer to Cody Webster, the stocky, blonde-haired boy who pitched and slugged Kirkland, Wash., to the 1982 World Series championship.

Asked if he sees any similarities, Kelly found one: "They both dominated."

Blasko will start on the mound Sunday against Waipio, which will counter with left-hander Khade Paris.

Blasko also started Friday but was pulled when he approached 20 pitches, leaving him eligible to pitch Sunday.

Kelly said saving Blasko for Sunday could be the difference.

"If I pitched my 2-3-4 guys against Hawaii, it might be an even game, and I want to take this team to Williamsport," he said.

Paseo Verde defeated Waipio 4-1 in pool play Tuesday, but Waipio did not start either of its top two pitchers, while Kelly used Blasko.

Paseo Verde outscored opponents 32-10 in four pool-play games and kept up the pressure Friday with an 11-hit attack against Arrowhead.

The Nevadans trailed 6-5 before taking control in the fourth. Blasko supplied a double and Joey Kulla had an RBI single during the big inning.

In addition to Keiser's big night, Paseo Verde's James Anderson had three hits and two RBIs.

Anderson also got the win. He relieved Keiser in the first and went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs.



Saturday, August 9
NEVADA WINS WILD ONE 14-8
J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/08/2008 10:54:34 PM PDT

Photo Gallery: Nevada vs. Arizona

SAN BERNARDINO - The wild pitch, or passed ball, with a runner on third base is among the most exciting plays in major league baseball because it happens so infrequently.

In Little League baseball, it seems to happen all the time yet loses none of its thrill. On Saturday, that one perilous play helped turn the Northwest Region semifinal from a major upset into a 14-8 victory for unbeaten Nevada.

Trailing 5-4 in the second inning, the Arrowhead Little League squad from Glendale, Ariz., plated two runners on the same wild pitch and took an unexpected 6-5 lead.

For the squad from Henderson, Nev., which hasn't lost since All-Star play began, a win-or-go home scenario had never hit so close to home.

"We've been in this position tons of times," Nevada manager Jim Kelly said. "I don't know if it's fate or luck, but these kids never give up."

Not until the top of the fourth inning did Nevada climb back to its usual place atop the scoreboard. After two singles and an error brought home three runs to make it 8-6, that devious wild pitch came into play once again.

Cadyn Grenier fell into an 0-2 hole, then watched a ball sail all the way to the backstop, scoring teammate James Anderson from third base.

The next pitch did the same, and Derek Clelan ran home for

Nevada's 10th run of the game.

Anderson finished 3-for-5 and Josh McCollum went 2-for-4. But the performance of the day belonged to Jesse Keiser, who hit two home runs for Nevada - one to lead off the game - and reached base and scored in all five of his plate appearances.

"It felt pretty good," Keiser said of his performance against Arizona starter Degan Harte. "We faced that guy (at a June tournament) in Cooperstown and didn't get a chance at him."

Michael Blasko started for Nevada and lasted 19 pitches, leaving the staff ace eligible for Sunday's championship game against Hawaii.

Anderson recorded the final out of the first inning and finished the game for Nevada, allowing four runs and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Nevada will play the squad from Waipio, Hawaii, in Sunday night's West Region championship game.

 

Friday, August 8, 2008 7:30 PM
Tournament game at San Bernardino, CA (Neutral site)
LLWSSF2

NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 14, ARIZONA Arrowhead LL 8

Score123456RHE
NEVADA Henderson, NV 2 3 0 5 2 2 14 11 2
ARIZONA Glendale, AZ 4 2 0 0 0 2 8 11 3

NEVADAABRHBI ARIZONAABRHBI
#13 Keiser, J., 3B-P 3 4 3 2   #15 Medina, M., SS 4 1 1 0
    #2 Grenier, C., SPR 0 1 0 0   #22 Sanborn, O., 1B-RF 4 2 4 0
#18 Blasko, M., P-SS 3 3 1 0   #26 Howard, R., C-CF-P 3 1 0 0
#44 McCollum, J., C 3 1 2 2   #19 Lyons, H., RF-CF-3B 3 2 1 1
    #3 Farmer, S., SPR 0 1 0 0   #25 Harte, D., P-1B 4 1 2 2
#28 Kelly, G., 1B 4 0 1 1       #23 Giannina, E., SPR 0 0 0 0
#45 Anderson, J., SS-3B-P 5 1 3 2   #24 Burgarello, M., CF-2B 3 1 1 0
#25 VanStone, T., RF-CF 1 0 0 0   #21 Sienkiewicz, A., 2B-P 2 0 1 2
    #11 Clelan, D., PH-RF 1 1 0 0       #17 Campman, T., P-CF 1 0 0 0
#75 Kulla, J., LF 3 0 1 1   #20 Calles, N., LF-P 0 0 0 0
    #51 Goodwin, R., LF 1 0 0 0       #23 Giannina, E., PH-LF 2 0 1 0
    #3 Farmer, S., SPR 0 0 0 0   #16 Neubauer, J., 3B-PH-C 2 0 0 0
#3 Farmer, S., CF 1 0 0 0       #27 Caccavale, N., PH-C 1 0 0 0
    #2 Grenier, C., RF-CF 3 0 0 0      Totals298115
#30 Dobrolecki, C., 2B 2 2 0 0            
    Totals3014118            

E: #15 Medina, M. 2, #44 McCollum, J., #13 Keiser, J., #24 Burgarello, M.   2B: #21 Sienkiewicz, A., #22 Sanborn, O., #18 Blasko, M.   HR: #13 Keiser, J. 2  

NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF ARIZONAIPHRERBBSOBF
#18 Blasko, M. 0.2 1 2 2 1 1 4   #25 Harte, D. 1.1 3 4 4 2 2 10
#13 Keiser, J. 0.0 2 2 2 2 0 4   #21 Sienkiewicz, A. (L) 1.2 2 3 2 3 2 10
#45 Anderson, J. (W) 5.1 8 4 3 1 5 25   #17 Campman, T. 0.1 2 3 0 1 0 5
Totals6.011874633   #26 Howard, R. 1.2 4 2 2 0 1 10
                  #20 Calles, N. 1.0 0 2 2 1 1 6
                 Totals6.01114107641

HBP: #18 Blasko, M. (by #25 Harte, D.), #11 Clelan, D. (by #26 Howard, R.), #30 Dobrolecki, C. (by #20 Calles, N.)   WP: #25 Harte, D. 3, #13 Keiser, J., #21 Sienkiewicz, A. 2, #45 Anderson, J. 3, #26 Howard, R. 2, #20 Calles, N. 2   PB: #44 McCollum, J., #16 Neubauer, J. 4   Pitches-strikes: #25 Harte, D. 43-18, #18 Blasko, M. 19-11, #13 Keiser, J. 17-8, #45 Anderson, J. 79-54, #21 Sienkiewicz, A. 44-17, #17 Campman, T. 16-7, #26 Howard, R. 35-22, #20 Calles, N. 24-11  

Start: 7:30 PM; Game time: 2:21; Attendance: 6000
Game officials: HP Dan Vierthaler, 1B Bill Kinsella, 2B Jack Welch, 3B Ryan Tagamori

LF Estevan Hernandez, RF Max Cannon

Jocelyn Welch (Book), Brent Stahlnecker (Computer), Cheryl Hoy (Spotter), Cheryl Smith (Pitch Counter)

Live webcast provided by www.sbsun.com with Larry Burch and Verdon Hoopes

Clear, Light Wind and 85 degrees




Thursday, August 7
NEVADA REMAINS FLAWLESS

 John Murphy, Staff Writer

Photo Gallery: Nevada vs. Utah

SAN BERNARDINO - The Paseo Verde (Nevada) Little League journeyed to Huntington Beach a few days ago and hit the surf.

It also prompted Nevada manager Jim Kelly to quip that standout pitcher/shortstop Michael Blasko is "scared of jellyfish."

Fortunately for Nevada, Blasko has no aversion to fastballs.

The muscular shortstop exploded out of a mini-slump on Wednesday with three home runs in five at-bats and drove in six runs in a 10-6, seven-inning win over Cedar City (Utah) American LL.

"I batted him first so he could get more at-bats and break out of his slump," Kelly said.

"I was hitting well in the cages, but I struck out three times against Northern California," Blasko said. "I guess I broke out of it today."

Blasko's second home run - a three-run bomb to right field in the fourth inning - went an estimated 300 feet.

His two-run homer cleared the scoreboard in right-center in the seventh, highlighting a five-run rally that snapped a 5-5 tie.

Trailing 5-0, Utah scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to tie. Dallas Jolley's clutch, two-out, RBI single tied the game.

But Utah could not halt Nevada in the seventh.

The team from Henderson is now the first from Nevada to go 4-0 in pool play at the regional.

Besides Blasko, Colin Dobrolecki and Stevie Farmer each had two hits for Nevada, which used eight pitchers.

Dusty Hone and Kayden Lunt each had two hits for Utah (1-3), which was eliminated with the loss. Hone hit a solo home run in the seventh.

Nevada advanced to the Western Region semifinals Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

 LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Blasko's blasts lead local Little Leaguers

Michael Blasko hit three home runs and drove in six runs as Paseo Verde finished a four-game sweep of pool play in the Little League West Regional in San Bernardino, Calif., with a 10-6 victory over Cedar City, Utah.

The Henderson-based team will be the No. 1 seed when the tournament resumes with semifinal play Friday night.

Blasko homered in the third, fourth and decisive seventh inning, when Paseo Verde snapped a 6-all tie.

 

BOX SCORE:

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 12:30 PM
Tournament game at San Bernardino (Neutral site)
LLWS 22

NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 10, UTAH Cedar City Amer. LL 6

Score1234567RHE
NEVADA Henderson, NV 0 0 2 3 0 0 5 10 12 0
UTAH Cedar City, UT 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 6 8 2

NEVADAABRHBI UTAHABRHBI
#18 Blasko, M., SS 5 3 3 6   #6 Hone, D., CF 3 1 2 1
#30 Dobrolecki, C., 2B-SPR-P 2 1 2 0       #7 Garrett, B., PH-LF-RF 1 0 0 0
    #13 Keiser, J., PH-2B-P 1 0 0 0   #12 Boyer, J., C 3 0 0 1
#28 Kelly, G., P-1B 2 0 1 0   #11 Low, H., 3B 3 0 1 1
    #45 Anderson, J., P-3B 2 0 1 0       #54 Barton-Rollo, R., 3B-LF 1 0 0 0
#2 Grenier, C., 1B-P-CF 4 1 0 1   #2 Sanders, T., SS-3B-2B 4 0 0 0
#25 VanStone, T., C-RF-P 1 0 0 0   #13 Esplin, B., 1B-P 3 0 1 0
    #44 McCollum, J., PH-1B-C 3 0 1 0       #54 Barton-Rollo, R., SPR 0 1 0 0
#75 Kulla, J., RF-C-P 3 0 1 0   #55 Lewis, B., RF-2B 3 1 1 0
    #30 Dobrolecki, C., SPR 0 1 0 1   #10 Lunt, K., P-SS 2 2 2 1
#3 Farmer, S., CF-P 4 1 2 1   #1 Jolley, D., LF-CF-PH 2 0 1 1
    #30 Dobrolecki, C., SPR 0 1 0 0       #8 Hanna, D., LF 1 0 0 0
#11 Clelan, D., 3B-RF 3 1 0 0   #51 Nielson, K., 2B-SS-P 2 1 0 0
#51 Goodwin, R., LF-2B 4 1 1 0  Totals28685
Totals3410129            

E: #11 Low, H., #13 Esplin, B.   2B: #10 Lunt, K., #3 Farmer, S., #75 Kulla, J.   HR: #18 Blasko, M. 3, #6 Hone, D.  

NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF UTAHIPHRERBBSOBF
#28 Kelly, G. 0.2 0 0 0 1 2 3   #10 Lunt, K. 4.0 7 5 5 4 6 23
#45 Anderson, J. 1.1 1 0 0 0 2 5   #51 Nielson, K. (L) 2.2 4 4 3 0 1 13
#2 Grenier, C. 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 4   #13 Esplin, B. 0.1 1 1 1 0 0 2
#3 Farmer, S. 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 3  Totals7.0121094738
#30 Dobrolecki, C. 0.1 1 3 3 1 1 4                  
#25 VanStone, T. 0.2 2 0 0 0 0 4                  
#75 Kulla, J. (W) 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 4                  
#13 Keiser, J. 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 4                  
Totals7.08662831                  

HBP: #51 Nielson, K. (by #25 VanStone, T.)   WP: #10 Lunt, K. 2, #51 Nielson, K.   Pitches-strikes: #10 Lunt, K. 86-51, #28 Kelly, G. 19-12, #45 Anderson, J. 15-13, #2 Grenier, C. 15-11, #3 Farmer, S. 17-11, #51 Nielson, K. 43-28, #30 Dobrolecki, C. 15-7, #25 VanStone, T. 10-6, #13 Keiser, J. 13-7, #13 Esplin, B. 7-5, #75 Kulla, J. 15-10  

Start: 12:30 PM; Game time: 2:18; Attendance: 400
Game officials: P-Bill Kinsella, 1st-Estevan Hernande, 2nd-Walter Kirkpatri, 3rd Ken Tucker

LF-Jack Welch, RF-Dan Vierthaler

Jocelyn Welch (Book), Fred Larkin (Spotter), Cheryl Hoy (Pitch Count), Gary Yoshinaga (Computer)

Sunny and hot. 92 Degrees



Tuesday, August 5
NEVADA STAYS HOT

Blasko fans 15 in 4-1 victory

John Murphy, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/06/2008 12:45:45 AM PDT

Special Section: Little League
Photo Gallery: Nevada vs. Hawaii

SAN BERNARDINO - The dream of Nevada Paseo Verde Little League of being the first team from its state to make a Little League World Series appearance is coming closer to reality.

Nevada took a step closer on Tuesday night, defeating Hawaii Waipio LL 4-1 in a pool-play battle of unbeatens before 4,500 at Al Houghton Stadium.

"Hawaii is a very good team," Nevada manager Jim Kelly said. "Tonight they made a few more errors than

Nevada's Michael Blasko struck out 15 to lead Paseo Verde to a 4-1 win over Hawaii Tuesday evening during the Little League Western Regionals in San Bernardino. Nevada improved to 3-0 in pool play, with one game left before playing in the semifinals on Friday. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
they usually do; usually they're flawless. But I also think we can hit better."

Nevada (3-0) finishes pool play at 12:30 p.m. today against Utah. Hawaii (3-1) has completed pool play and has clinched a spot in Thursday's semifinals.

No Nevada team has ever gone 4-0 in pool play, another incentive for the Paseo Verde team.

"We're just trying to stay humble," Kelly said. "That's a big thing for us."

At least one longtime Little League observer has compared Nevada right-handed pitcher Michael Blasko to Cody Webster, a stocky, tow-headed Washington Kirkland Little League player who led the Seattle-area team to the 1982 World Series title.

Blasko did little to discourage the comparisons on Tuesday night, throttling the Hawaiians on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out 15 and walked one.

Hawaii standout Caleb Duhay said Blasko is the fastest pitcher the Waipio team has seen.

"You have to start your swing early, but some of his curves were kind of hanging," Duhay said.

Blasko - the grandson of former major league pitcher Joe Blasko - agreed his curve was hanging and he didn't use his change up much. But it didn't seem to matter.

Hawaii scored it only run in the second following a two-out single by Jedd Andrade. Pinch-runner Keelen Obedoza came around to score on a dropped fly ball.

Duhay and Christian Donahue had Hawaii's other hits, with Donahue contributing a solid double.

Meantime, Nevada scored all the runs it would need in the first after loading the bases on singles by Jesse Keiser, Blasko and Josh McCollum. One run scored on a fielder's choice and another came home on a Hawaii error.

"The first inning we threw the ball around a little," Hawaii manager Timo Donahue said. "But you can't take anything away from (Blasko). He pitched a great game." 3-1

Nevada added an unearned run in the second inning to make it 3-1, then got a solo home run from Derek Clelan in the fourth inning.

Nevada had a total of seven hits off three Hawaii pitchers, including two by Keiser.

 

Box Score

Tuesday, August 5, 2008 7:35 PM
Tournament game at San Bernardino, CA (Neutral site)
LLWS20

NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 4, HAWAII Waipio LL 1

Score123456RHE
HAWAII Waipahu, HI 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 3
NEVADA Henderson, NV 2 1 0 1 0 X 4 7 2

HAWAIIABRHBI NEVADAABRHBI
#5 Donahue, C., SS 3 0 1 0   #13 Keiser, J., LF-3B 3 1 2 0
#25 Paris, K., 1B 3 0 0 0   #18 Blasko, M., P-SS 3 1 1 0
    #13 Fong, K., SPR 0 0 0 0   #44 McCollum, J., C 3 0 1 0
#8 Akau, I., C 2 0 0 0   #28 Kelly, G., 1B 3 0 1 1
#10 Ulep, J., CF 1 0 0 0       #25 VanStone, T., SPR 0 0 0 0
    #12 Duhay, C., CF 2 0 1 0   #45 Anderson, J., SS-3B 3 0 0 1
#9 Ling, T., P-RF-LF 3 0 0 0   #2 Grenier, C., 3B-CF 1 0 0 0
#14 Andrade, J., RF 1 0 1 0       #51 Goodwin, R., PH-RF 2 0 1 0
    #32 Obedoza, K., PR-RF-P 1 1 0 0       #3 Farmer, S., SPR 0 0 0 0
#3 Winchester, K., 3B 2 0 0 0   #75 Kulla, J., RF 1 0 0 0
    #1 Yap, M., PH-LF 1 0 0 0       #11 Clelan, D., LF 1 1 1 1
#27 Tokunaga, T., 2B 2 0 0 0   #3 Farmer, S., CF 1 0 0 0
#13 Fong, K., LF-3B-P 1 0 0 0       #25 VanStone, T., CF-P 1 0 0 0
    #4 Farm, U., LF 1 0 0 0   #30 Dobrolecki, C., 2B 1 1 0 0
    Totals23130  Totals23473

E: #25 Paris, K., #3 Farmer, S., #3 Winchester, K. 2, #2 Grenier, C.   2B: #5 Donahue, C.   HR: #11 Clelan, D.  

HAWAIIIPHRERBBSOBF NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF
#9 Ling, T. (L) 3.0 5 4 3 2 4 17   #18 Blasko, M. (W) 5.1 3 1 0 1 15 22
#32 Obedoza, K. 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 3   #25 VanStone, T. (S) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 3
#13 Fong, K. 1.0 2 0 0 1 0 6  Totals6.031011625
Totals5.07433526                  

HBP: #32 Obedoza, K. (by #25 VanStone, T.)   Pitches-strikes: #18 Blasko, M. 86-63, #9 Ling, T. 59-41, #32 Obedoza, K. 11-7, #13 Fong, K. 20-9, #25 VanStone, T. 12-8  

Start: 7:35 PM; Game time: 1:35; Attendance: 6000
Game officials: HP John Halloran, 1B Duane Cave, 2B Bill Kinsella, 3B Dan Vierthaler

LF Ken Tucker, RF Brian Lopez

Vicki Toigo (Book), Brent Stahlnecker (Computer), Cheryl Hoy (Spotter), Steve Thomson (Pitch Counter)

Live webcast provided by www.sbsun.com with Larry Burch and Kevin Smith

Clear, Light Wind and 83 degrees

Note: Bottom 2nd; Illegal Pitch by #9 Trevor Ling to #30 Colin Dobrolecki




Sunday, August 3
NEVADA 7, NOR CALIFORNIA 3
 Nevada made it two in a row against California teams by taking advantage of six walks and four errors on its way to a 7-3 win over Northern California in West Region pool play on Sunday.

Northern California Pleasanton American took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run double from Nicholas Goldstein, who scored on a single by Chase Hennings.

Nevada defeated Southern California 11-0 Friday.

Nevada Paseo Verde LL reliever Joey Kulla came in to start the third inning and earned the win by holding Northern California scoreless for the final four innings, allowing just two hits.

"I usually pitch about two innings in relief and sometimes I'm a starter, but it really doesn't matter since I always feel comfortable on the mound," said Kulla. "I wasn't hitting my spots with my curve or change, so I went to my fastball."

NorCal starter T.J. Friedl and three relievers combined for 11 strikeouts.

Pleasanton American still held a 3-2 lead after Nevada scored in the third on a double by Mike Blasko and single from Griffin Kelly, who eventually advanced on a error and then scored on a passed ball.

Nevada took the lead for good at 6-2 in the fourth on four walks, an error and run-scoring singles from Jesse Keiser and Josh McCollum. Kelly finished the scoring for Nevada in the seventh with an opposite field home run over the score board in right field.

Sunday, August 3, 2008 11:00 AM
Tournament game at San Bernardino (Neutral site)
LLWS9

NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 7, NO. CALIFORNIA Pleasanton Amer. LL 3

Score123456RHE
NEVADA Henderson, NV 0 0 2 4 0 1 7 8 0
NO. CALIFORNIA Pleasanton, CA 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 4 3

NEVADAABRHBI NO. CALIFORNIAABRHBI
#13 Keiser, J., P-RF-LF 2 1 1 1   #20 Friedl, T., P-CF 3 0 2 0
#18 Blasko, M., SS 4 1 1 0   #17 Piscotty, A., SS-P 3 0 0 0
#44 McCollum, J., C 4 0 1 1   #43 Anderson, R., 2B-SS-P 2 0 0 0
    #2 Grenier, C., SPR 0 1 0 0   #45 Dronkers, J., 1B-3B 2 1 0 0
#28 Kelly, G., 1B 3 1 2 0   #41 Hsu, B., 3B-2B-P 2 1 0 0
#45 Anderson, J., 3B 4 0 1 0   #39 Wipfli, J., C 1 0 0 0
#3 Farmer, S., CF-SPR 1 1 0 0       #44 Alley, R., C 1 0 0 0
    #75 Kulla, J., P 2 0 1 0   #40 Meisenheimer, R., RF-1B 0 1 0 0
#25 VanStone, T., RF-CF 2 0 0 0       #42 Shackley, M., RF-1B 1 0 0 0
    #11 Clelan, D., LF 1 0 0 0   #15 Goldstein, N., LF 1 0 1 2
#30 Dobrolecki, C., 2B 3 1 1 0       #2 Schmidt, Z., LF 1 0 0 0
#51 Goodwin, R., LF 1 0 0 0   #37 Hennings, C., CF-RF 1 0 1 1
    #2 Grenier, C., LF-CF 1 1 0 0       #16 Greenan, K., PH-RF 1 0 0 0
    Totals28782      Totals19343

E: #43 Anderson, R. 2, #41 Hsu, B.   2B: #15 Goldstein, N., #18 Blasko, M.   HR: #28 Kelly, G.  

NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF NO. CALIFORNIAIPHRERBBSOBF
#13 Keiser, J. 2.0 2 3 3 3 2 9   #20 Friedl, T. (L) 3.2 5 6 2 3 6 21
#75 Kulla, J. (W) 4.0 2 0 0 1 0 14   #17 Piscotty, A. 1.0 2 0 0 2 1 7
Totals6.04334223   #43 Anderson, R. 1.0 1 1 1 0 3 4
                  #41 Hsu, B. 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 1
                 Totals6.087351133

WP: #20 Friedl, T. 6   PB: #39 Wipfli, J., #44 McCollum, J.   Pitches-strikes: #20 Friedl, T. 84-47, #13 Keiser, J. 34-16, #75 Kulla, J. 47-29, #17 Piscotty, A. 29-17, #43 Anderson, R. 20-14, #41 Hsu, B. 2-1  

Start: 11:00 AM; Game time: 1:50; Attendance: 1000
Game officials: P-Walter Kirkpatrick, !st-Bill Kinsella, 2nd-Estevan Hernande, 3rd-Ken Kenold

LF-Ken Tucker, RF-dan Vierthaler

Book-Kevin Smith, Pitch Count- Bill Sedlacek, Spotter-Cheryl Hoy, Computer-Gary Yoshinaga



Mom's doing wash
Saturday, August 2
Wash day at Western Regional

A Day Off
A Day Off In San Bernardino

Friday, August 1
AN OPENING SALVO
Perennial powers fall early, often on opening night
J.P. Hoornstra, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/01/2008 11:13:10 PM PDT

 

SAN BERNARDINO - After a trio of one-run games to start the first day of Western Region play, it was time for a good ol' fashioned Little League blowout Friday night.

The victim of the 11-0 rout was the Southern California-based team, always the crowd favorite, from Aliso Viejo. The team on the happy end - and probably not for the last time in this tournament - was Paseo Verde Little League of Henderson, Nev.

Showing off its deep lineup and the strong right arm of pitcher Michael Blasko, Nevada put this one away early, breaking open a scoreless game with seven runs in the second inning and four more in the third, for the 4-inning mercy-rule shortened win.

For a team making its first trip to the regional tournament,

Nevada s Josh McCollum leaps toward the plate after hitting a grand slam off Aliso Viejo pitcher Justin Fowler as Nevada defeated Southern California 11-0 on Friday. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
did Nevada think it would be this easy?

"No," manager Jim Kelly said succinctly. "I heard a lot of positive things about how tough Southern California was. I know we have a great team. I know the kids came through."

Blasko scattered two hits, walked one and struck out eight.

"I don't feel like a lot of people knew how our team was," Blasko said. "They were all underestimating us. Most of the crowd was cheering for California."

Remarkably, Blasko might have earned more respect at the plate than on the mound.

After striking out in his first at-bat, Blasko was walked with the bases loaded to bring home Nevada's third run of the game. Josh McCollum was up next, and he drilled an 0-2 pitch deep into straightaway center field, a grand slam to make it 7-0.

Still hitless in the game, Blasko was intentionally walked an inning later with Derek Clelan on second base, bringing up McCollum. Aliso Viejo paid the price as McCollum singled, bringing home both runners with the 10th and 11th runs of the game.

"As soon as I got on first base, I saw Josh was up," Blasko said. "I thought, `he can hit a home run here, get a bigger lead.' I was just surprised."

McCollum finished 2-for-3 with six RBI. Cadyn Grenier went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Stevie Farmer went 2-for-3 for Nevada.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Goodwin came off the bench to hit Nevada's second home run of the game, a laser over the center-field fence to start the fourth inning.

Kelly said that Goodwin and Clelan had been struggling coming into the game - a scary testament to his team's depth.

"Every kid stepped up," Kelly said.

The defensive play of the game belonged to Aliso Viejo pitcher Calvin Westfall, who leaped off the mound toward third base to field a bases-loaded ground ball. Diving and throwing from the ground, he nailed the Nevada baserunner coming home to preserve the 11-0 score in the fourth inning.

 

 

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Joshua McCollum hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as Paseo Verde of Henderson beat Southern California representative Aliso Viejo 11-0 in an opening-day pool play game of the Little League West Regional in San Bernardino, Calif.

Michael Blasko allowed one hit as Paseo Verde won in a game called after four innings on the mercy rule.

 

BOX SCORE:

Friday, August 1, 2008 8:00 PM
Tournament game at San Bernardino, CA (Neutral site)
LLWS04

NEVADA Paseo Verde LL 11, SO. CALIFORNIA Aliso Viejo LL Nat. 0

Score123456RHE
NEVADA Henderson, NV 0 7 4 0 - - 11 11 0
SO. CALIFORNIA Aliso Viejo, CA 0 0 0 0 - - 0 2 1

NEVADAABRHBI SO. CALIFORNIAABRHBI
#13 Keiser, J., 2B 2 1 1 1   #7 Fowler, J., P-SS 1 0 1 0
    #11 Clelan, D., PH-RF 2 1 1 1   #17 Harrison, S., C 2 0 0 0
#18 Blasko, M., P 1 2 0 1   #10 Westfall, C., 1B-P 2 0 0 0
#44 McCollum, J., C 3 1 2 6   #23 Sebade, B., LF-1B 2 0 0 0
    #25 VanStone, T., SPR 0 0 0 0   #15 Cole, N., CF 2 0 0 0
#28 Kelly, G., 1B 3 0 0 0   #11 Molnar, K., SS-3B-RF 1 0 0 0
#45 Anderson, J., SS 2 1 1 0       #48 Walker, J., RF-LF 1 0 0 0
    #30 Dobrolecki, C., SS 0 0 0 0   #51 Teshima, K., RF 1 0 1 0
#25 VanStone, T., RF 1 0 0 0       #34 Corrigan, S., P-RF 0 0 0 0
    #51 Goodwin, R., PH-LF 2 1 1 1   #3 Batliner, P., 3B 1 0 0 0
#2 Grenier, C., 3B 3 2 2 0       #2 Firks, B., P-3B 0 0 0 0
#75 Kulla, J., LF-2B 2 1 1 0   #13 Keeler, B., 2B 1 0 0 0
#3 Farmer, S., CF 3 1 2 1  Totals14020
    Totals24111111            

E: #11 Molnar, K.   2B: #11 Clelan, D.   HR: #44 McCollum, J., #51 Goodwin, R.  

NEVADAIPHRERBBSOBF SO. CALIFORNIAIPHRERBBSOBF
#18 Blasko, M. (W) 4.0 2 0 0 1 8 15   #7 Fowler, J. (L) 2.0 6 8 8 2 2 15
Totals4.02001815   #2 Firks, B. 0.2 3 3 3 1 0 6
                  #34 Corrigan, S. 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 5
                  #10 Westfall, C. 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 2
                 Totals4.01111114328

WP: #7 Fowler, J., #2 Firks, B. 2   PB: #44 McCollum, J.   Pitches-strikes: #7 Fowler, J. 56-43, #18 Blasko, M. 59-40, #2 Firks, B. 21-10, #34 Corrigan, S. 17-11, #10 Westfall, C. 7-3  

Start: 8:00 PM; Game time: 1:22; Attendance: 8500
Game officials: HP Max Cannon, 1B Richard Gallardo, 2B Ken Konold, 3B Nicky Trevino

Game Officials: LF Duane Cave; RF Ryan Tagamori

Diane Marshall (Score Book), Brent Stahlnecker (Computer), Steve Whitacre (Pitch Counter)

Clear, Light Wind and 83 degrees