All-Stars debut in tourneys

Teams from four leagues in three divisions, competing in two districts, share a common dream as Little League Baseball All-Star tournaments involving Costa Mesa and Newport Beach participants begin today at various sites.

Costa Mesa American and National leagues will compete in District 62 tournaments, while Newport Beach American and National leagues will test the competition in District 55.

Each district holds double-elimination tournaments for teams broken down into age divisions.

The 11- and 12-year-olds will compete in the Majors Division. Teams for players ages 10 and 11, as well as squads composed of athletes ages 9 and 10, will also vie for district championships.

The Costa Mesa American Majors All-Stars open today at 10 a.m. against Huntington Valley at LeBard Park in Huntington Beach.

The Costa Mesa National Majors All-Stars are also at LeBard Park, battling host Seaview in a 1 p.m. game.

Last year, the Costa Mesa American Majors All-Stars advanced to the semifinals of the district tournament.

Costa Mesa National Majors Manager Greg Pearce said his team will challenge opposing pitchers.

“We have a lot of good hitters,” Pearce said. “Anybody we play is going to have to outscore us. This is one of the better-hitting teams we’ve had in years. I think we’ll do at least fairly respectably.”

In a battle for intracity bragging rights, the Costa Mesa National 10-11 All-Stars open today against Costa Mesa American at 10 a.m. at Johnson School in Westminster.

Last year, the Costa Mesa National Little League 9-10 All-Stars advanced all the way to the District 62 semifinals.

The Costa Mesa American 9-10 All-Stars open today at 10 a.m. at Seaview against Seaview.

The Costa Mesa National 9-10 All-Stars open today against Huntington Valley at 1 p.m. at LeBard Park.

The championship series for all three District 62 divisions begins July 11.

Both Newport Beach American and National Majors All-Stars open Sunday, while three Newport Beach teams open play today.

The Newport Beach American 11-year-old All-Stars face Aliso Viejo today at 1 p.m at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel.

“It should be a lot of fun,” Newport Beach American 11-year-old All-Star Manager Bill Worden said. “For us to do well, we’ll have to play good defense and take advantage of opportunity when it arises. We do have pitchers who’ll throw strikes, and that’s important.”

The Newport Beach American 9-10 All-Stars play Northwood today at 10 a.m. at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo.

The Newport Beach National 9-10 All-Stars play Laguna Niguel today at 4 p.m. at Woodfield Park.

The Newport Beach National Majors All-Stars take on Laguna Beach at 9 a.m. on Sunday at Chapparosa Park.

The Newport Beach American Majors All-Stars play Sunday at 3 p.m. against the winner of Saturday’s game between Rancho Niguel and Lake Forest American. Sunday’s contest is also at Chapparosa Park.

All District 55 tournaments continue through July 15 at their respective sites.

The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. has Bronco A, Bronco B and Mustang A teams all competing in championship games at the Dana Point Summer Classic today.

Newport Harbor’s Bronco A squad (ages 11-12) plays Dana Point at 5:30 p.m. at Del Obispo Park.

Newport Harbor’s Bronco B team plays St. Hedwig at 2:45 at Del Obispo Park.

Newport Harbor’s Mustang A team does battle with St. Hedwig at 5 p.m., also at Del Obispo Park.

A Newport-Mesa showdown will take place tonight in Fullerton, where the Costa Mesa Pony 13 All-Stars play the Newport Harbor Pony 13 All-Stars in district play at 6:30 at Amerige Park.

District tournament action begins Sunday at 6 p.m. for the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. Pinto All-Stars, who meet Whittier White at West Haven Park in Garden Grove.

The Corona del Mar Pony 13 All-Stars open district play Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Amerige Park.

The Newport Harbor Mustang All-Stars open district play on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. against Whittier at Freedom Park in Westminster.

The Newport Harbor Bronco All-Stars will play Garden Grove on Thursday at 5 p.m. in their district opener at Garden Grove.

The Costa Mesa Pony 14 All-Stars open district play July 9 against Saddleback Valley at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress.

The Newport Harbor Pony 14 All-Stars will play Dana Point at 3 p.m. on July 9 at Oak Knoll Park.