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Lawndale 7.5.12

July 5, 2012 Page 5 Joe Sports Adam Pro Sports Tri Park Eliminates Holly Park Fall From Grace By Joe Snyder By Adam Serrao take their spots and step into roles that they The Tri Park Major Little League It wasn’t long ago that the Los Angeles are not used to filling, thus having to work All-Star baseball team was able to Dodgers had the best record in the National harder and thereby producing less. hold off Holly Park for a 5-3 win to League West and even beyond that, the best Even so, help is on its way very soon. remain alive in the loser’s bracket record in all of Major League Baseball. Anyone While Ethier was only sidelined for a few of the District 37 Tournament last who watches the game of baseball, however, games, both Kemp and Ellis should be back Thursday at Carl Nielsen Park, home knows that the same boys in blue that previ- directly after the All-Star game that takes of the Westchester Little League. Tri ously had climbed to the top of the league place on July 10. Once those three get back Park, which includes players from are now looking like bums in blue, sliding all into the lineup, the Dodgers will once again Hawthorne, Lawndale and Gardena, the way to the bottom even faster than they have their core back and the offense should was led by leadoff batter and shortstop ascended. Certainly, the baseball season is a finally do its part to end its worst slide in years Chris Lopez who went three-for-three long campaign. With 162 games to be played and eventually start scoring runs again. Even with a home run and two singles to complete the sports year, it is regular to see through their horrific play of late, however, for three runs batted in. Lopez also good teams at times fall into slumps along the one thing separates this team from last year’s. scored two runs. Lopez led Tri Park way. The Dodgers, however, aren’t only in a Stan Kasten and the ownership group that with a solo home run over the left slump They are on a meteoric descent that includes Magic Johnson, unlike Frank Mc- field fence in the bottom of the first when over with may be the worst in team Court, are willing to do whatever it takes to inning. Centerfielder Lorenzo Dumas history, begging the question are these in fact win. Already looking overseas to enhance the had a double and scored for Tri Park. the same Dodgers of last year that finished team, Kasten and the Dodgers’ front office Tri Park took a 2-0 lead through in third place in their division just slightly recently signed 21-year-old Yasiel Puig to a two innings, but Holly Park, located above the .500 mark? seven-year deal in order to hopefully be the in northeast Hawthorne, rallied to tie The Los Angeles Dodgers led the NL West Dodgers left fielder of the future. Beyond the game at two on a two-run homer by as many as 7 1/2 games on May 27. At that, the hot stove is burning white hot with from Peyton Barnes in the top of the time that this is presently being written, trade rumors that have the Dodgers looking the fourth. Tri Park bounced back the Dodgers are now a game back in the in various areas to improve their team and with two runs for a 4-2 lead in the standings of the San Francisco Giants and their brand. “I promise you we’ll explore bottom of the fourth, behind a run- have been shut out five times in six games everything,” Kasten said of his team’s posi- scoring single from Lopez. Tri Park Holly Park pitcher Peyton Barnes throws to a Tri Park batter during last and six times in 12 games--including all tion on the trade market this year. “Look, added another run in the bottom of Park eliminated Holly Park 5-3. Photo by Joe Snyder. three at San Francisco and at least two out of as candid as we can be, we’te the Dodgers.Thursday’s District 37 Major Little League Baseball Tournament action. Tri the fifth when Andrew Castellanos the four games against the New York Mets. We’re supposed to be big. We intend to be walked and scored on a base hit by with a 10-7 win over Lennox last Thursday Presently, those same Dodgers have produced big. Will we look at big things? You bet.” Aaron Gomez. at Del Rey’s Lagoon Park. Tri Park faces the only two runs in their last 57 innings played, While there is nothing big about the way Holly Park cut Tri Park’s lead to two runs loser of today’s winner’s bracket semifinal seeing them lose seven games in a row and the Dodgers have been playing on the field as Anthony Hernandez singled, Kalani Ford between Westchester and Del Rey. The finals 11 out of their last 12. The slide has dropped recently, fans can rest assure that although walked and Drew Hawkins hit into a fielder’s are at Westchester at 10 a.m. and, if neces- the Dodgers from five games ahead in the it feels like it, it may not be the end of the choice scoring Hernandez. Josh Nelson ended sary, at 6 p.m. on Sunday. NL West and in first place to where they are world just yet. With names like Carlos Lee the threat as he struck out against Tri Park Lennox and Westchester are in the winner’s now--one game behind the Giants and in being rumored to join the Dodgers’ clubhouse relief pitcher Cernar Durnay who came in bracket in the Minor (age 9-10) Tournament second place. These Dodgers don’t seem to soon, it is clear that management is doing for starter Stone Kronberger. “It’s hard to after rolling over host Aviation 13-3 on June be the same team they were last year. Now, everything it can to better the team for a play so many games,” Tri Park coach Louis 26. The finals are Sunday at Westchester at they seem to be even worse. run at the playoffs this year. Once the lineup Campos, Jr. said after Tri Park lost earlier 1 p.m., and, if necessary, at 6 p.m. To give the team credit, the Dodgers are gets healthy and the trade deadline passes, to Del Rey 7-0. “We’re trying to reach the Big Dogs Under 12 lose finale depleted by injuries that may explain some the runs being put up on the scoreboard for finals. We have two games to go.” Four Hawthorne and Lennox boys’ and of their insufficiencies lately. Obviously, Matt the Dodgers should make this, the time of a Tri Park resumes today against either girls’ soccer teams traveled to Hawaii for Kemp has been out of the lineup for the majority completely anemic offense, almost completely Lennox or Aviation. The tournament runs the Rainbow Classic last week. Hawthorne’s of the year with his hamstring injury. Andre forgettable. through Sunday at Nielsen Park. under 12-year-old boys Big Dogs team ad- Ethier has been sidelined a few games with an Though many fans would love see that Other Little League Results vanced to the final, but lost to North Hawaii oblique injury. The team’s number two hitter 7 1/2 game lead reappear in the standings, Lennox’s Senior Little League baseball on Sunday. Also making the championship and one of the best defensive second basemen when put into perspective, the Dodgers aren’t team advanced to the District 37 All-Star was the 16-19-year-old boys’ squad, which in the game, Mark Ellis, almost lost his leg really putting themselves out of misery just Tournament finals with a 4-3 win over took on Aiea from Hawaii on Sunday but due to complications resulting from the injury yet. Only one game back of the National Lawndale on June 26 at Jim Thorpe Park in results were unavailable. that he suffered on May 19 that has seen him League West-leading Giants, the Dodgers Hawthorne. Lennox takes on the winner of For the Under 14 girls, Hawthorne won sidelined for almost a month and a half now. still have the opportunity to retake the lead in today’s loser’s bracket final between Holly three of four games, defeating Hawaii teams When you take the number two, three and four the division standings even before the entire Park and Tri Park, which starts at 5 p.m. Milinni 2-0, Diamond Head 1-0 and Kailua hitters out of any lineup in the league all at team gets healthy. Even so, if the Dodgers can Saturday’s championship series begins at 1-0, but losing to Leeward from Northern the same time and for an extended amount of make it to the All-Star break without slipping 2 p.m. If Lennox falls, a second game will California 2-0. In the girls’ 16-19 Division, time, you can expect the team’s run produc- much more, then they certainly won’t have begin at 4:45 p.m. Lennox won two and tied one. Lennox tion to drop off drastically. Not only are the to worry about the ghosts of last year with Tri Park is alive in the loser’s bracket of blanked Leeward 3-0 and Honolulu 1-0 and big hitters for the Dodgers sidelined, but the the visage of Frank McCourt revisiting their the Intermediate (age 10-11) All-Star Classic tied West Oahu 2-2. • other hitters on the team are being asked to clubhouse anytime soon. • What is the difference be- tween a frog and a cat? Save 65% the Family Value Comboon A frog croaks all the time, 45069KRY a cat only nine times. 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins $9401Save2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers 4 (3 oz.) Gourmet Jumbo Franks A chicken crossing the 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb. pkg.) road is poultry in motion. 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Lawndale 7.5.12
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