Sports
MB Jr. All-Stars Split Weekend Games
The team travels to Culver City to play San Pedro Eastview in a 5 p.m. game. If they win, the squad will face North Venice in a rematch on Tuesday.
The Manhattan Beach Junior Little League All-Stars pulled out a close 4-2 win over Holly Park in the first round of Section 4 play on Saturday. The undefeated squad relied on its deep pitching and stellar defense to hold Holly Park and their big hitting star Isaiah Flowers to two runs.
To deal with Little League rules that require a minimum number of days of rest between games based on the number of pitches thrown, Manager Ira Smith used a four-man rotation for the contest to maximize his options for upcoming games.
Rhett Rudnicki, Michael Rump, Will Lacey and Mitchell Meyer pitched for MB, with Rumpp picking up the win. Rumpp took the mound in the third inning and threw three-and-one-third innings in only 20 pitches. "Our team has been playing well defensively, so I knew if I threw strikes, they'd make the plays," said Rump.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Meyer came in with one out and a runner on first in the seventh inning and induced a 5-4-3 [third baseman to second baseman to first baseman] game-ending double play. Teammates were quick to anoint Meyer with the "One Pitch Mitch" moniker for his efficiency.
Luke McCauley led the offense, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. McCauley was also kept busy in left field tracking down many a fly ball. Will Lacey was the other offensive catalyst, going 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
On Sunday, the team faced a tough North Venice squad that had bested San Pedro Eastview 11-6 and lost 9-4. If they defeat San Pedro Eastview in their game tonight, they will get to face North Venice again on Tuesday.
Said Smith, "The team is playing very well. We just need to focus on playing one inning at a time. Luke and Will are hitting the ball great, but other kids are making valuable contributions, too. We'll need to get everyone to continue that in order to do well." Smith is assisted by coaches Mark Macdonald and Chad Standrowicz.
The team consists of Jordan Bremer, Luke Jelmini, Will Lacey, Jake Lane, Luke McCauley, Mitchell Meyer, Jackson Michalski, Glen Mitchel, Rhett Rudnicki, Michael Rumpp, Jack Theodore and Robert White.
The ballfield in Culver City is at 9800 Jefferson Boulevard.
