Manhattan Beach Little League continued to prove its all-star baseball teams are among the best of the West despite not reaching World Series status this summer.
The league had two teams reach the Western Regionals and one play for the Southern California championship.
The MBLL Junior All-Star team (ages 13-14 combined with Hermosa Beach Little League) fell just short of a World Series berth falling to Pearl City, Hawaii 2-1 in 10 innings in the West Regional championship game on Aug. 12 in Vancouver, Wash.
After both teams scored in the first inning, the game became a pitcher’s duel as Manhattan Beach starter Dylan Dennis allowed only four hits in 6 and 2/3 innings.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, an Hawaiian batter walked and stole second before a two-out hit to right field provided the walk-off win.
Manhattan Beach had runners on base in every inning but could only score once when Merrick Baldo drove in Chase Ozawa in the first frame.
“It was a heartbreaking loss especially because we didn’t do anything wrong throughout the game,” Head Coach Keith Ramsey said. “In the last inning, the stolen base was a bang-bang play that could have been called either way and even the winning hit came off a very good pitch.”
Manhattan Beach opened the West Regional tournament with a 13-0 victory over Utah before losing to Arizona 4-1. The team rebounded to rout Idaho 16-1 and Oregon 11-2, advancing to the semifinals where they shutout Northern California 14-0.
The Junior All-Star team outscored opponents 170-30 in the postseason and was looking for a repeat appearance in the World series after playing in the tournament in Taylor, Mich. in 2014.
Ramsey, a Westchester resident and former pitching coach at Harbor College, is in his third year in Manhattan Beach.
“From the first practice I knew this team was special as they bought into the family concept,” Ramsey said. “We did not have one issue all summer, which is rare. Usually questions arise about playing time but every player on the team accepted his role and the parents were very supportive”
Ramsey feels Mira Costa High School head coach Cassidy Olson will be getting a talented group for his baseball program.
“Cass has been so supportive of our league and will have a great group of well grounded kids coming in who I expect to have tremendous high school careers.”
The Junior All-Star team consisted of Merrick Baldo, Nick Carpino, Dylan Dennis, Matt Devico, Jake Gordon, Jared Karros, Colin Livingston, Tommy McMahon, Chase Meidroth, Chasen Ozawa, James Park, Everett Smith, Cooper Sutherland and Evan Voss. Assisting Ramsey were coaches Matt Sugarman, Jackson Morrow and Eric Karros.
The  MBLL Senior League All-Star team (ages 13-16 combined with Hermosa and Redondo Beach Little Leagues) also suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to end its season on July 26.
After rallying to tie the score 1-1 in the top of the 6th inning, the boys from the beach fell to Arizona in the Western Regional semifinals in Ontario. Arizona scored the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Manhattan Beach’s Rollie Nichols and Ty Conrad went 2 for 3 and Carson Phillips went 2 for 4 in the game.
“We certainly had a group that was strong enough to make it to the World Series but our bats went cold on the wrong night and it wasn’t meant to be,” Manager Hugh Quattlebaum said.
Team members included Bash Alexiades, Matt Beserra, Ty Conrad, Dom Devico, Nathan Draves, Sean McDonald, Rollie Nichols, Nathan Nykazza, Chris Penna, Carson Phillips, Jason Schwartz, Colton Sizemore, Jesse Storey, Jake Symon, Kohl Titzler and James Tulio. The team was coached by Hugh Quattlebaum, Carlos Rojas and Aaron Myers.
MBLL Senior All-Star teams have had tremendous success in the past few years, reaching the World Series in Bangor, Maine in 2010 and finishing as runners-up to Hawaii in the 2011, 2013 and 2014 Western Regionals.
“Because of past success of the teams, particularly the team that went to the World Series, the players and the community realize there is a unique opportunity each summer to play baseball on a really fun and competitive stage,” Quattlebaum said. “This enables eschewing other summer baseball opportunities like club team tournaments or showcases.
“We are also very fortunate that the local high school coaches, especially Cass Olson, support the program and allows the kids to play as some high school coaches in other areas don’t allow it.  Since the South Bay is particularly rich in baseball talent to begin with, we end up with a uniquely enriched and consistent program. “
The MBLL 11-12 year-old all-star team made the record books this season becoming the league’s first team in the 9-12 year-old range to reach the Southern California Championship Series, the furthest a team in that age group has gone since MBLL was founded in 1958.
The boys from the South Bay fell to an explosive Sweetwater Valley from Bonita 9-6 and 18-5 in the best-of-three series.
Sweetwater Valley survived a six-run rally in the bottom of the 6th inning Saturday evening to defeat Waipio of Hawaii 12-10 in the Western Regional championship game at San Bernardino and will be the West representative when the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. begins on Thursday, Aug. 20.
The MBLL All-Star team included Andrew Beserra, Cole Brunner, Caden Garvey, Max Gordon, Kyle Karros, Dylan Knowles, Connor Meidroth, Parker Murray, Anthony Powell, Kalani Rusher, Benjamin Scott, Brian Stinson, Jonah Storey, and Jake Wall.
Todd Storey served as team manager aided by coaches Eric Karros, Bob Wymbs, and Anthony Wall.
“Not only did the 11-12, Junior, and Senior teams each reach impressive heights in their respective All-Star runs, but they demonstrated a sportsmanship and maturity that reflected positively on our leagues and towns,” MBLL President David Henschel said. “These boys are obviously talented, but they’re also incredibly hard-working. You also have to attribute some degree of our success to the quality and dedication of our managers and coaches.”
