A close play at second base captured here in action from the SFLL Marlins-Nevada City Dodgers Tuesday night. The Dodgers took the TOC game by a 5-3 count. obfoto.com

June 23, 2004

NC Dodgers Top SFLL Marlins, 5-3

It was a night of “what ifs” for the Sierra Foothills Little League Marlins in the team’s District 11 major division Tournament of Champions game Tuesday against the Nevada City Dodgers.

Playing at Bear River LL Park, the Marlins, the SFLL’s “B” team, received a steady pitching performance from lanky lefthander Kyle Smith but a few fielding miscues and a late rally that was cut short doomed the Colfax-Meadow Vista based team in a tough 5-3 loss to the Nevada City championship team.

Smith, who reached the full limit 85-pitch count with two outs in the fifth inning, used a strong fastball and teasing off-speed pitch to fan eight batters and allow the Dodgers just four hits.

However, the Marlins let an early 1-0 lead slip away when the Dodgers used an error, an infield single by Joey Souza and an ensuing double steal by Conner Upton and Cooper Valine to take a 2-1 advantage after one stanza.

The scored stayed at 2-1 for three more frames as Smith and Valine, the Dodgers starter, stayed in front of hitters while their respective defenses were making the plays.

However, after the Dodgers took a 3-1 lead and Smith was replaced on the hill by Scott North, the Dodgers capitalized on two close play infield hits at first base and two Marlins errors to extend their lead to 5-1.

The Dodgers then inserted “ace” Joey Souza to close the game but the Marlins made things interesting.

Chas Reisinger got things rolling with a sharp ground rule double to right field. Smith then followed with a sharp grounder to shortstop that was misplayed for an error that scored Reisinger.

Will Smith, who had doubled in the first inning to drive in the Marlins’ opening run, then singled and pushed Smith to third where he eventually scored on a passed ball to make the score 5-3.

However, the threat was the stymied with a strikeout and ground out.

“I thought we played a good game,” said Marlins manager Mike Hinrichs. “We made a few errors that hurt and didn’t hit consistently but we had a good season.”