LITTLE LEAGUE: Brynie masterful for Vista National

By TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:32 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- For a couple of hours on Sunday, the Vista National Little League All-Stars looked more mature than 12-year-olds during their 5-3 victory over Escondido American in the Section 6 Tournament at Stonebrooke Fields.

But today, as Vista National's players enjoy a day off, they'll go back to being kids.

The plan is for Vista National to celebrate teammate Blair Houk's birthday at a site to be determined ---- the beach or a bowling alley.

"Beach?" said pitcher Jake Brynie, who tossed a complete game. "I hope it's bowling."

Brynie's vote should count a little extra after he needed only 79 pitches to beat Escondido American, striking out six batters. Complete games are rare in Little League because of the 85-pitch limit.

"That's a feat," said Vista National assistant coach Mike Pallonetti, "but the defense entered into it, too."

Shortstop Dominic Lerma made plays with his glove and was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and three runs scored.

A two-run home run by Brett Barlow in the bottom of the first inning gave Escondido American a 2-1 lead, and Escondido American appeared poised to add more when Jordan Serrano led off the second inning with a single.

But Brynie got out of the inning, thanks to a pair of key plays by Lerma. First, Lerma started a double play when he fielded a ground ball, stepped on second and threw to first. Then he made a back-handed stab of another grounder, gathered his feet and threw out the runner to retire the side.

In the third inning, Vista National catcher Chad Woolsey alertly fielded a long ricochet of a wild pitch off the backstop, then threw to Lerma to get the runner trying to advance to second. The play saved a run, as Jake Krantz followed with a double but was stranded by Brynie.

With the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth, Lerma hit an opposite-field homer on a 1-2 count; the ball hit the top of the fence and bounced over.

"The pitcher was messing with the ball in his glove, but I thought he was just trying to mess with my head," Lerma said. "I guessed fastball, and I guessed right."

The loss dropped Escondido American into the loser's bracket, where it will face University City at 6 tonight at Stonebrooke. University City remained alive and ended Allied Gardens' season with a 8-5 win in Sunday's second game at the double-elimination tournament.

Vista National will face the winner of tonight's game at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

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