The journey to the Little League World Series is underway in Murrieta as part of the region’s annual All-Stars Tournament. And, as they so often do, stories of inspiration are emerging from the sun-drenched fields at Los Alamos Sports Park.
Temescal Valley Juniors All-Stars Dylan Alhanati (l.) and Jacob Cuso root on their teammates on Saturday at Los Alamos Sports Park in Murrieta. (Daniel Lane/SWRNN)
Read: Batter up! Little League kicks off All-Stars tourney in Murrieta
Riverside resident and Little League and baseball veteran Bob McClure was announcing the game between the All-Stars Juniors teams representing Murrieta National and Temescal Valley Friday night when his grandson Dylan Alhanati, 13, faced down a fast ball in the bottom of the first inning.
“I knew it was gone right when it hit the bat,” McClure said.
The no-doubt solo shot soared over the fence in right-center field, but as Dylan rounded first base something went wrong.
“Dylan doesn’t go down, so when he stayed down, we knew something was wrong,” McClure said, adding that an awkward step on the bag sent the player spiraling with a hyper-extended knee.
With Dylan unable to finish his home-run trot, the game’s umpires were quick to inform coaches that in order for Dylan’s home run to count, he would have to manage the bases on his own or with help from the team — the opposing team.
California Little League All-Stars Tournament photo gallery (Daniel Lane/SWRNN):
“It’s actually a rule in Little League,” said California Little League District 28 District Administrator Tim Underdown.
Without hesitation, Murrieta players took the field and helped Dylan round the bases to score the home run.
“It was one of the most amazing displays of sportsmanship I have ever seen,” said Shannan Legendre, Temescal Valley Little League president.
Temescal Valley Juniors All-Stars Manager Claude Alhanati said: “It was a great thing. (The Murrieta players) are a total class act. Every lesson in sportsmanship and class that you would want your kids to learn happened right here.”
Murrieta Valley Manager Don Smith said that many of his players knew Dylan personally from having competed against him in previous years.
Smith said the decision to render aid was automatic.
“That’s Little League,” he said.
Underdown said that the show of good faith by the Murrieta players was something in which Little League takes great pride.
“This is what Little League is built on. They preach it at every seminar. It’s always been about the philosophy of sportsmanship,” Underdown said.
Manager Alhanti’s team suffered more adversity when second baseman Jacob Cuso took a hard shot to the knee in the fourth inning that resulted in being carted off the field.
The 13-12 loss stung, but Alhanati promised his team would rebound.
“The plan I have for this team is that I’ve got 10 kids (who) have all the heart and spirit you could ever hope for. Our plan is to stick with that spirit and leave it all out on the field,” he said with emotion.
The result Saturday was a rousing 14-8 victory over Canyon Lake Little League.
Both Jacob and Dylan, friends and teammates for many years, are scheduled for MRIs on Monday.
Dylan said of his competitors from Murrieta: “It was really nice of them to carry me around. They didn’t have to do that. But they did.”
Additional California District 28 All-Stars Tournament scores include:
In the 9-10 year-old division:
Friday, July 6
Menifee Valley (5) vs. Temescal Valley (4)
Canyon Lake (10) vs. Lake Elsinore (6)
Saturday, July 7
Temecula Valley American (9) vs. Menifee Valley (4)
Temescal Valley (13) vs. Murrieta National (3)
In the 10-11 year-old division:
Friday, July 6
Lake Elsinore (10) vs. Temecula Valley American (9)
Temecula Valley National (12) vs. Menifee Valley (3)
Saturday, July 7
Murrieta National (13) vs. Lake Elsinore (2)
Temescal Valley (21) vs. Temecula Valley American (2)
In the 11-12 year-old division:
Friday, July 6
Lake Elsinore (3) vs. Temecula Valley National (1)
Canyon Lake (5) vs. Menifee Valley (4)
Saturday, July 7
Temecula Valley American (8) vs. Temescal Valley (1)
Lake Elsinore (6) vs. Canyon Lake (2)
Murrieta National (12) vs. Wildomar (1)
Menifee Valley (10) vs. Temecula Valley National (2)
In the Juniors year-old division:
Friday, July 6
Lake Elsinore (7) vs Menifee Valley (4)
Menifee Valley (13) vs. Temescal Valley (12)
Saturday, July 7
Temescal Valley (14) vs. Canyon Lake (8)
Menifee Valley (11) vs. Temecula Valley American (10)
Kerri S. Mabee can be reached at kerri.mabee@swrnn.com. Follow me on Twitter @kerrimabee. Find us on Facebook.
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