Ethan Hoopingarner of Aliso Niguel delivers a pitch for the Sea View League. (Photos courtesy James Tomlin, For OC Sports Zone)
Most of the action in Friday night’s 23rd annual Ryan Lemmon Showcase happened in the second inning.
The designated visiting team the Pacific Coast League started with three runs but the home team Sea View League answered with six in the bottom of the inning and went on to win 9-3 at the Great Park Baseball Stadium. It was the first time the showcase has been held at the Great Park.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
The Sea View League took advantage of four errors by the PCL in the second inning to go ahead 6-3.
Carson Lewis of San Juan Hills and Brent Riddle of San Clemente had big nights at the plate for the Sea View League.
Lewis had a double and a single and two RBI and Riddle had two hits and an RBI.
“I did all right, I found my way on, it was pretty cool just to be out here and have fun with the boys I’ve always played against,” Riddle said. “I love these guys, I know basically everyone here. It was really cool to play with them.”
The PCL started fast with three runs in the top of the inning. Nick Wetzel of University singled. Jason Carrig of Northwood reached on an error which extended the inning and Bubba Filia of Irvine, Ricky Teel of Beckman and Grant Lockwood of Irvine followed with with RBI singles.
The Sea View League used a walk, a hit batter, an RBI double by Carson and an RBI single by Riddle to score two more runs in the third and one more in the seventh when Ethan Hoopingarner delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Justin Bailey of Trabuco Hills.
“It’s always fun to get out against people you’ve competed against,” said Trabuco Hills Coach Mike Burns. “Now, you’re on the same team and you get to know the kids a little bit and you get to know the personalities. It’s a lot of fun. Winning is better than losing, but it’s fun to win, but it’s more about being out here and talking to the coaches from the other team that you don’t get to see a lot.”
One of the Mustangs, Sammy Murphy, finished on the mound for the Sea View League team. Hoopingarner came on in the sixth inning. Connor Wilford of San Clemente, Kyle Grier of Aliso Niguel, Ryan Lachemann of San Juan Hills and Andrew Herbert and Nick Royer of San Clemente also pitched for the Sea View League.
Leonard Memon and Miles Malohn of Irvine, Brad Hodges of University, Trevor Ernt and Niklas Krutiak of Beckman and Jacob Carroll and Jose Rodriguez of University pitched for the PCL.
“It’s always fun whether you win or lose,” said Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle, who led the Patriots to the PCL title. “Obviously it’s guys just coming out and playing and playing different positions. None of us have really put on a uniform for a couple weeks. I know for the boys, they probably won’t admit it but it’s nice to go out and play with guys (in the league) again.
“In our league, the Pacific Coast League is really unique because the kids all grew up together and they play together. Then for four years, they kind of split and you see each other three times a year when you play. Then in this game here, I’ve coached against Brad Hodges (from Uni), but I’ve never talked to him and today you get to do that, and what a great kid. I could say that for a lot of guys but for a coach it’s just fun.
“That’s the reason that parents sign their boys up for Little League when they’re 4-years-old because baseball is fun. Guy (Lemmon) and Dick (Owens) do such a great job in giving these kids that experience, no matter how you did today, whether you had two hits or pitched a scoreless inning or went 0 for 2, this is always a fun experience for everybody.”
RELATED: Bubba Filia wins home run hitting contest
Rosters, schedules for all five Ryan Lemmon Showcase games
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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