Announcement
OVLL Rockhounds 15, OVLL Lookouts 6
Saturday, June 18
by: Daniel Lewis
Capping an incredible playoff run, the Rockhounds overcame a 5-run first inning by the Lookouts and received exceptional late-inning pitching from Thomas Williams to capture the District 62 Minor B championship in an all-Ocean View Little League battle at Robinwood Little League on Saturday.
The Lookouts had a tremendous playoff run of their own, but simply ran into a determined Rockhounds team in the final. This was the sixth time the league rivals had faced each other with the Rockhounds taking the season series, 5-1.
Williams put on an amazing show, going 4-for-4 with 3 RBI, two doubles and three runs. He also pitched the final 2-1/3 innings, striking out four.
The Lookouts grabbed a 5-2 lead in the first inning, however, the Rockhounds outscored them, 13-1, the rest of the way.
Rockhounds cleanup hitter Shane Hoodman contributed three RBI, highlighted by a ringing, two-run double to left field in the sixth. But the biggest hit for the Rockhounds belonged to Lisa Tobin, who broke open a tight game with a two-run, ground-rule double. She smacked a hard grounder past shortstop and the ball wound up rolling under the left-center field fence to give the Rockhounds a 9-5 lead in the third inning.
Williams and Chance DiMarco tacked on RBI singles in the fourth for an 11-5 lead.
After totaling 14 hits in their 11-6 semifinal victory over the Robinwood Bulldogs, the Rockhounds (20-4-1 overall) kept up the offensive pressure with 16 hits against the Lookouts. David Drigla went 3-for-4, while Cole Kaplan, Hoodman and DiMarco each had two hits. Eric Church and Tyler La Force chipped in with solid singles.
Lookouts No. 9 hitter Chandler Calkins smashed a two-run double and an RBI single. Noah Madas had an RBI double and AJ Valle had two hits for the Lookouts, who beat the top seeds from Westminster, Costa Mesa National and Seaview Little Leagues to reach the title game.
Reilly Kells, Nick Chumacero and Kaleb Plewa were instrumental in the Rockhounds attack, reaching base five times collectively via walks or hit-by-pitches.
The Rockhounds went a combined 9-1 in tournament play (5-1 in OVLL, 4-0 in District 62)
