The Culver City Little League Major All- Stars took their first step toward Williamsport with an 8-0 shutout over Santa Monica on Saturday.
On Thursday evening at 6, Culver City faces powerhouse Malibu at the West Los Angeles Bad News Bears Field.
Culver City pitchers Andy Perez and Oliver Frye combined on a three-hitter in the whitewashing.
Perez started and dominated. He struck out the nine of the 17 batters he faced. Frye came in during the bottom of the fifth inning and proceeded to retire all five batters he faced, three by strikeout.
First basemen Stephan Thomas led the offense, singling in each of his first three plate appearances.
Oliver Frye strokes a home run
The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the third inning. Right fielder Jayden Mapile, who made a catch that was the defensive catch of the year in the second inning, opened the third inning with a six-pitch walk.
Mapile took second on a deep drive to left by Tommy Peacock. Thomas singled to left, scoring Mapile with the only run Culver City would need.
Culver City wasn’t done on offense. After Perez reached base, Frye hit a double to left-center, clearing the bases. Shortstop Jesse Tanahara singled in Frye, and after a Martin Lucero single, Jared Bojorquez singled to left scoring Tanahara, giving Culver City an insurmountable 5-0 lead.
Culver City scored three more in the fourth as Peacock walked, Thomas singled him to second, and Frye hit a mammoth home run over the right center field wall. Frye’s homer landed in the diamond lane of the 405 Freeway, later retrieved by his daredevil father, Dr. Mark Frye.
Perez, who recently had a cast removed from his broken foot, praised his teammates. “My defense was extraordinary,” he said. “I knew that if I threw strikes, the fielders would make the players. Jayden’s play in the second inning was tremendous, but I see these guys do it all the time in practice.
“(Catcher) Tommy (Peacock) called a great game. He made it easy to pitch.”
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scott.zeidman@laslots.com