Mustang All-Stars Triumph in District Finale

It was a "little" hit, but it had a huge impact in the final game of the Pony Baseball Mustang District 1 All-Star Tournament on Tuesday at the Palisades Recreation Center's Field of Dreams.

Pacific Palisades' 9- & 10-year-olds were clinging to a one-run lead with two outs in the third inning and runners on second and third when lead-off hitter Justin Howard bunted down the first base line for a single that scored two runs and sent Palisades on its way to a 9-5 victory over Santa Monica.

"Justin executed and beat the throw," Palisades Manager Jason Reese said. "It was a huge play because it gave us a 4-1 lead and we sort of opened it from there."

There is something to be said for momentum and Palisades' Mustang all-stars had it going into Tuesday's game--a victory that clinched first place and earned Palisades a higher seed in the Sectional Tournament, which starts Friday. 

"We pulled it together and won the tournament," Palisades Manager Jason Reese said. "Today, we executed the gameplan really well. No one hit a home run, but Harrison Listen tripled and we got lots of singles and good base running."

Starting pitcher Bryant Reese outdueled Santa Monica's hard-throwing Hunter Van Cott, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings before giving way to Nico Chapus for the final 1 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Palisades' offense gave its pitchers breathing room, building leads of 8-1 and 9-3.

After losing to Santa Monica in its first game last Thursday, Palisades needed to reel off five straight victories to win the double-elimination tournament. Perhaps the added pressure is what Palisades needed to raise its game.

"That was a tough loss, but I think it made us more focused," Reese said. "After that, it was either win or go home."

Mercy rule wins over Lynwood, Cheviot Hills and Pico Rivera earned Palisades a rematch with Santa Monica, which captured the winner's bracket and thus needed only one win to clinch the title. Palisades, though, won 6-5 Monday to force another game. 

"Give Palisades credit--they played better," Santa Monica Manager Jimmy Van Cott said. "The first two games could've gone either way."

Palisades, Santa Monica and third-place Pico Rivera all advance to the seven-team Section 1 Tournament. Palisades opens against East Long Beach B at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Heartwell Park in Long Beach.

If Palisades wins Friday it won't play again until Sunday at 10 a.m. against the Santa Monica-Norwalk winner. If Palisades loses Friday it will drop to the loser's bracket and play either Torrance or Pico Rivera at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Click here to view the tournament bracket.

In the PONY (14) West Zone-West Region Sectional Tournament, Pacific Palisades lost 11-1 to Long Beach in Tuesday's championship game and played Heartwell Wednesday for a berth in the Super Regional Tournament, which begins July 28 in Whittier.