YOUTH SCENE

COURAGE PLAY IN ITALY

The Costa Mesa Courage, a girls’ soccer team in the 12-14 age division, is competing in San Marino, Italy today.

The Costa Mesa girls were invited to play in the San Marino Cup tournament after going undefeated for the past two seasons.

They left for Italy June 28, from Tewinkle Elementary School and will play in the qualifying games which start today.

The tournament features 80 teams from more than 15 different nations.

— From staff reports

MUSTANG B DOMINATES

The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Mustang B All-Stars defeated Placentia B, 8-0, to win the Dana Point Summer Classic championship.

Steven Faulconer pitched a one-hitter without a walk, facing the minimum in six innings. Two Placentia runners reached base, one by an error, the other with a hit.

Garrett Davis started a rally in the fourth inning for the NHBA All-Stars. Luke Genova also had a hit and Chase Alibrando brought them both in with a double.

Jack Lynch, Jack Rapillo, Luke Genova and Jake Genova also contributed with key hits in the fifth to extend the lead.

Matt Kaplan, Carson Poivre, Rapillo, Luke Genova, Faulconer, Davis and Josh Lewis provided important defensive plays to shut down Placentia.

Ryan McCully and Blake Olinger were not able to attend the game for the NHBA All-Stars.

— From staff reports.

COSTA MESA HUMBLED

FULLERTON — One day after pulling off an upset over Newport Harbor Baseball Assn., the Costa Mesa 13-year-old All-Stars were humbled with a 14-4 mercy-rule loss in five innings against Fountain Valley in the second round of the Pony District Tournament Monday at Amerige Park.

Costa Mesa’s start was promising, as it scored three runs to open the game, just as it did in its 4-3 win over NHBA on Sunday. But after giving up one run in the bottom of the first, Costa Mesa allowed five unearned runs in the second.

The Costa Mesa All-Stars, who mercied Fountain Valley in a tournament less than a month ago, trailed 12-4 after four innings. But they committed four errors in one play sequence, which scored two runs and ended the game.

“That’s why baseball is such a humbling game,” Costa Mesa Manager Kirk Stone said in a phone interview. “If you don’t come out ready to play and you’re not it, you open yourself up to lose.”

Kannon Stone, who turned 14 on Monday, went two for three with two RBIs for the Costa Mesa All-Stars. Martin Myszynski led off the first inning with a triple. He also had a double and scored two runs.

JT Goldfarb produced a hit and an RBI. Alex Trancoso also finished with a hit.

The Costa Mesa All-Stars will play in an elimination game Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at Amerige Park.

NHBA plays against Cypress in an elimination game today at 7:30 p.m.

— From staff reports