It was a storybook ending that couldn’t have been scripted any better. On championship day last Saturday afternoon at the Bluffs Park, the Giants and Dodgers played a memorable game that brought tears to the eyes of many in attendance. The Giants prevailed 2-1 in dramatic fashion to win the Malibu Little League Middles Hardball division championship behind the heroics of eight-year-old Liam Kilroy.
With the game tied at one apiece in the bottom of the sixth inning and one out, Kilroy came to the plate to face the Dodgers’ Luke Mincer, who had pitched an incredible game with 14 strikeouts. Kilroy’s teammate Ryan Johnson stood at second base in scoring position, after hitting a single and stealing a base.
The count reached one and two as Mincer prepared to strike out another Giant batter.
Kilroy, with two previous hits to his credit this season, calmly laced a Mincer fastball to right field. Johnson took off, rounded third and sprinted for home plate.
“I was rounding third and I knew I was going to score,” Johnson said. “I kept thinking ‘win, win, win.’”
The throw to home came a split second late and Johnson slid across safely, setting off a raucous celebration as the Giants rushed the field and dogpiled on Kilroy. Emotions ran high on both sides, with tears of happiness for the Giants and tears of sadness for the Dodgers both on the field and in the stands. Kilroy, who didn’t practice all week due to a case of pink eye, was thrust into the air and carried off the field on the shoulders of his manager, Mario Miranda.
It brought to light how special little league baseball is and how precious a moment it was for a young boy achieving a dream.
“It was my first good hit of the season and I felt really good about it,” said Kilroy. “I will not ever forget it. My teammates were great and we just played our hardest. I’m proud. We just had a spectacular season. It felt like I was winning a World Series in the pro league.”
Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Giants (10-8) struck for the tying and winning runs the last two innings with their backs against the wall. Their valiant effort proved worthy of a champion.
“This is for me baseball at its best,” Miranda said. “It’s all about the kids. I love coaching and I love seeing kids get better and enjoying the moment.”
“The whole team helped us win the championship,” said Landon Amaral, the Giants’ starting pitcher who threw two innings of scoreless baseball. “If it wasn’t for Liam’s hit we wouldn’t have won. If it wasn’t for Ryan and his speed he wouldn’t have gotten home and scored the winning run.”
Chase Kelly came in relief of Amaral and picked up the win going 3 2/3 innings and allowing only an unearned run for the Giants.
Lost in the celebration but not forgotten was the courageous and inspiring pitching feat from Mincer. He struck out 14 Giant batters in a dominating performance.
“It was very difficult. I can’t say a word how difficult it was,” said the mature and composed Mincer. “Once I saw Liam get the hit, I knew we had a 50 percent chance of the person getting out or the person being safe. It looks like the 50 percent chance went to the runner.
“I would love to be in that position again.”
As the Dodgers came off the field in obvious pain and dejection, Dodgers Manager and MLL President Steve Ciniglio brought the team together and kept saying repeatedly, “I love you guys. Don’t cry. Be proud of who you are and how you played.”
“Our pitcher probably pitched the best game of the year even though we lost. That is what is amazing,” Ciniglio said. “We just didn’t get a hit when we needed it. They won it on a clean hit. That’s all we can ask for. It was a great game and that’s what baseball is. A great game.”