The Malibu Little League (MLL) Braves advanced to the title game of the District 25 Tournament of Champions at La Cienega Park last week.
The Braves, champs of the MLL’s majors division, had two straight wins in the Beverly Hills-located tournament before falling to Ladera, 12-0, in the event’s closing contest.
Braves coach Steve Prudholme said the team, MLL titlists for four consecutive seasons, never stopped competing in the June 15 loss to Ladera. He said the Braves just faced a better team.
Before the title game, the Braves defeated Santa Monica West in the tournament’s first round on June 11. The squad then knocked off Culver Marina, 10-0, in the semifinals two days later.
Prudholme said the team had a great showing in the baseball event.
“Everyone contributed up and down the lineup,” he said. “To finish as the MLL majors champions and the No. 2 majors team in all of District 25 out of 27 teams with a 15-5 record for the season is a tremendous accomplishment and a huge success.”
Elijah Clayton led the team of 10 to 12 year olds on offense in the tournament. Stevie Prudholme, the coach’s son, and Graydon Phelps recorded the Braves’ lone hits in the championship match. Stevie had two and Graydon had one.
On the mound, Kade Kelly led the team’s defense. Stevie and Travis Lapinski also spent time pitching.
Coach Prudholme revealed that this season was the final year of the MLL Braves. He and former Braves coaches Royce Clayton and Pete Cannon founded the Lions Club Baseball Academy at Oaks Christian School, which has 12U, 13U and 14U teams. Former Braves coaches Mario Miranda and Mike Matousek are coaches in the program.
Clayton, a former Major League Baseball All-Star, is also the varsity baseball coach and co-director of baseball operations at Oaks Christian. Cannon is on his coaching staff.
Barry Katz, whose sons Asher and Zion Katz played for the Braves, said playing on the team changed their lives. He said the Braves were always successful due to the infrastructure and commitment to hard work, fair play, excellence and teamwork the coaches instilled in the players.
“There is no value in the world that can be placed on the influence they have had,” the elder Katz said. “They exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
Brian Kelly, the dad of Braves Finn and Kade Kelly, said the Braves’ coaches challenged the players to strive for excellence and have high expectations, on and off the diamond.
“The team of coaches around the players are committed to developing the whole player, not just athletics,” he said.