Little League All Stars: Lafayette Elevens Fall to Walnut Creek

Score: Walnut Creek 5, Lafayette 1

Records: Walnut Creek 1-0, Lafayette 0-1 

The Star:  Cullen Kafka started the game for Walnut Creek a pitched a solid 5 1/3 innings but couldn't pull out the complete game. He was pulled in the sixth when a blister opened on his thumb.

The Turning Point: Lafayette starter Kevin McComel walked the bases loaded to start the fourth inning before being pulled for Brad Robison. Walnut Creek's Spenser Ellis then hit a single to center, which scored Cullen for an early 1-0 lead. The visiting All Stars would score twice more in the fourth and twice more in the fifth.

The Quote: "Defense. We failed on defense. We hit well, we pitched well, but our defense let us down," Tim Martinho, Lafayette manager after his team allowed only three hits, but was on the losing side.

Who's Next?  Lafayette drops into the losers' bracket and will play today against East County in North Oakland at 6 p.m. Walnut Creek advances in the winners' bracket, and goes to Antioch on Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Bottom Line: The road becomes a little tougher for Lafayette, having to play the day after a loss and Walnut Creek continues in the winners' bracket and gets a day of rest.

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What could have been for the Lafayette 11-year-old All Stars was shut down by Walnut Creek's Cullen Kafka's pitching.

The visiting All Stars starting pitcher forced seven ground ball outs, including a crucial double play in the fifth inning to end a Lafayette rally, toppling the home team 5-1 Tuesday night.

Lafayette manager Tim Martinho was frustrated at his team's inability to play good defense. His team was at the end of three errors, which equaled the number of hits they allowed.

"We failed on defense. We hit well, we pitched well, but our defense let us down," said Martinho.

Lafayette's lone run came in the sixth inning. After a pair of back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, Brad Robison's sacrifice fly scored Max Burdock to cut the deficit to 5-1, before Kevin McComel struck out swinging to end the game.

Walnut Creek's manager, Byron Beckus was on the other end of the spectrum in terms of defense.

"The outfield defense was really good. The outfield must have had a dozen plays, and they made them all. I think that was difference, (Kafka's) pitching, our defense and some key hits," Beckus said.

Kafka said he didn't let himself get ahead of what should have been in terms of balls and strikes.

"I kept my head in the game when I didn't agree with some of the umpire's calls," Kafka said. "That would be it. I'm looking forward to our team having a good tournament and going all the way."

Walnut Creek took charge in the fourth after both Cullen and Lafayette starter McComel had retired the side in order in each of the first three innings. McComel walked the bases loaded before being pulled in favor Robison, who gave up an RBI single to Spenser Ellis giving Walnut Creek an early 1-0 lead.

Jean Chang would score on a fly out by Alan Alltop and Adrienne Lim would score on a Grant Sandberg single to push the lead to 3-0 after four innings.

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Walnut Creek 5,  Lafayette 1

Walnut Creek 000320 — 5 3 1   

Lafayette 000001 — 1 5 3 

Walnut Creek — Kafka 2-0-0, Read 3-0-0, Graham 3-1-0, Longmire 2-1-0, Dito 2-2-1, Ellis 1-1-1, Lim 1-1-1, Johansen 1-0-0, Alltop 2-0-0, Sandberg 2-0-0, Stenberg 1-0-0. Totals. 30-5-3

Lafayette — Burdock 3-1-2, Dinerman 3-0-1, Plummer 2-0-0, Ashburn 1-0-0, Robison 3-0-0, McComel 3-0-1, Levy 2-0-0, Sears 1-0-0, McKendell 1-0-0, Jackson 1-0-0, Martinho 1-0-0, Capino 1-0-0, Rembac 1-0-0.

Pitching

Walnut Creek — Kafka 5+ IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 K, 0 BB, Graham 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 K, 0 BB

Lafayette — McCowel 3+ IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 5 BB; Robison 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 0 BB; Ashburn 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 1 BB; Levy 2/3 IP,0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 K, 0 BB

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