“Newport Beach has never won this district in the 27 or 28 years we’ve had Little League,” Newport Beach Manager Duane Hastings said. “We’ve only gotten to this game [two] other [times].”
Hastings said he saw the 2002 and 2006 Newport Beach teams fall short. The first one involved an older brother of one of Hastings’ players.
The second involved one of Hastings’ sons. Cort Hastings is now watching his younger brother, Jake, play. It’s easy for Cort to understand why Newport Beach has reached the finale.
Credit the team’s sheer resiliency. These kids just don’t go away.
“I’m so nervous,” said Cort, an incoming sophomore at Corona del Mar High.
Cort and the rest of the large crowd Monday settled down after pitcher Ben Humphreys’ start. The right-hander delivered five strong innings, striking out seven and allowing only two runs.
The second outing against Laguna Hills from Newport Beach’s staff turned out to be a vast improvement.
The first time Newport Beach saw Laguna Hills, the out-of-town team began its title run with an 11-2 victory on July 1, knocking Newport Beach into the loser’s bracket.
Since then, Newport Beach has been in survival mode. The way Parker Reposa has hit the ball, Newport Beach keeps slugging back.
Reposa tagged another ball during the team’s four-run third inning. The ball appeared headed over the right-field fence before it stayed in, giving Reposa a double instead of his seventh homer of the tournament.
“It’s the first ball he’s hit in the air that hasn’t gone out in the tournament,” Hastings said. “Reposa is coming up big.”
Newport Beach has raised its level of play.
