Mustangs Dominate Southern State Championship

Bangor, Maine, home to the 2010 Senior League World Series, is more than 3,000 miles to the North and East on this nation's highways.

But the Manhattan Beach All-Stars are a few miles closer to it, and farther along on this championship road than they ever have been, after thoroughly dominating San Diego North Park on Saturday in winning the Southern California State Championship.

The Mustangs, all from Mira Costa High, were barely threatened, pretty much ending the best-of-three series at Caruthers Park in Bellflower in just one game and one inning.

After winning the first game 13-6 behind a big three-run home run by Brett Clark and a solo shot by Sam O'Melia, Manhattan Beach got key hits from Bret Collins, Ian McLoughlin, O'Melia and Clark in putting up six first-inning runs in a 22-2 title clinching victory in the second game that highlighted the depth and versatility of this team.

''This is new territory for us,'' Manager Carlos Rojas said. ''We've never been here before. Our girls softball went to the World Series a few years ago, but as far as baseball, this is as far as we've gotten and we're excited … we're really excited.''

The Manhattan Beach Little League Senior All-Stars, 9-0 in tournament play to this point, advance to the Western Regional Tournament in Ontario where they will match up against state champions from Oregon, Nevada and Washington and the host league in Pool B, with state champions from Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona and Northern California in Pool A.

The Mustangs play their first game of the tournament on Tuesday at 1 p.m. against Nevada, play Oregon at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and after a two-day break complete pool play with games against Washington on Saturday at 10 a.m. and the tournament host on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.

Going in, there is one enticing question. Just how good is this team? Rojas said he didn't think that the Mustangs had played to their potential yet, and they still breezed through some of the best All-Star teams in Southern California, winning games by 20-3, 11-1, 13-6, 22-2.

''Teams are definitely going to be better as soon as we get to the next round,'' said Ryan Erickson, who has been one of the Mustangs' hottest hitters in the All-Star tournaments, hitting home runs in three consecutive games. ''You're playing teams that are representing their states, all the best players from every state. We're going to be challenged in the next round, for sure.''

The Mustangs, curious as anyone to know the answer to that aforementioned question, are looking forward to that challenge.

''I want to play all the other teams, out past California, to see them, and hopefully get to Bangor, Maine, get all the way, get that big goal, and them take on the world teams,'' pitcher Carter Casady said. ''I want to see what it's like. I just want to see what happens.''

Manhattan Beach has proven it will be a tough out going forward. They have pitching depth, led by left-hander Anthony Lombardo, Turner Conrad and Casady, with capable arms in Morgan Ascher, Austin Henning, Jackson Lipps and O'Melia.

There is depth to a bullying lineup led by Collins, Lombardo, Ryan Franklin, Erickson and Henning, McLoughlin and Clark. Those 22 runs came in just five innings, the game ended there by the 10-run rule.

The bench has been just as productive as the starting lineup, producing a 12-run seventh inning against El Monte in the division championship game and a 7-run fifth inning in the second game against North Park.

Braden Casady came off the bench in that title clinching game on Saturday, reached base safely in his two plate appearances and scored two runs . Jackson Casady was on base in his two trips to the plate and scored two runs. Trent Hammond drove in two runs with a single, and Jack Hadley had solid at-bats when he was at the plate.

''We're playing well, obviously, and we're pitching well and hitting the ball well,'' Rojas said. ''We still get sloppy once in a while – not doing the little things. But it's a great group of kids. They've definitely responded to our coaching. We've only had to make a correction once. They're a good cohesive unit, and they work well together.

''They definitely can play, no doubt about it. I mean, that's why they're here. This is a group of 16 guys and all 16 guys I have total confidence in putting out there any time in any position. They're a good bunch. We are deep and only time will tell how deep we go, and how far we go.''