Pintos Reach Sectionals

The Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s Pinto All-Stars are enjoying quite a summer. Facing live pitching for the first time, the squad of 7 & 8-year-olds beat Mira Costa, Pico Rivera and East Long Beach to win the Pinto District playoffs in Lynwood and advance to last week’s Sectionals at Cheviot Hills. Coached by David Howard, Joe Collins, John Hurley, Andy Starrels and Will Winkenhower, the Pali team overcame a pair of four-run deficits, including a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, to beat East Long Beach, 18-17. ‘When you factor in that our kids didn’t face live pitching during the regular season we’ve done remarkably well,’ Howard said. ‘We’ve had to come from behind to win almost every game. These players have shown a lot of heart.’ In the Sectional tournament, Palisades beat Cheviot Hills, 8-7, in its first game last Thursday. Trailing 5-3, the Pali All-Stars rallied to take a 8-3 lead and sealed the victory on a running catch by outfielder Colin Enzer with two on and two out in the sixth inning. Pali beat East Long Beach’s “A” team in its second game Saturday, then lost to Norwalk on Sunday in the championship game of the winners bracket. That set up a rematch with East Long Beach for a berth in the Regionals tournament in Santa Clarita, but Pali lost 12-2, bringing an end to its season. Including the Mid-Valley tournament over Memorial Day weekend and the Father’s Day Classic in Chino Hills, Palisades finished with a 7-6-1 record. Palisades’ Pinto All-Stars include first baseman Spencer Howard, shortstop/pitcher Will Bantle, outfielders Colin Enzer, Jack Brew, Cade Christensen, Zach Lynch, R.J. Sands and Dane Morrow, shortstop/pitcher Emmett Collins, second baseman Dylan Damavandi, catcher/pitcher Nicholas Hurley, catcher/infielder Adam Snyder, and pitcher/infielders Jason Starrels and Will Winkenhower. * * * The Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams complex will be the host site for this year’s Mustang All-Stars Sectionals tournament beginning this Friday, July 13 and continuing until Sunday, July 15. Games begin at 5 p.m. on Friday.