On their trip to Surprise, AZ, for the Pacific Region finals, the Westchester Babe Ruth 14U All- Stars winged away to a winning start, last night. They beat defending champion Tri Valley, 3 to 2.
Three more consecutive wins – starting tonight – sends Westchester to the World Series in Utah.
Meanwhile in Arizona, Westchester is competing with teams from Central and Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii.
In the opening game, Westchester found an old rival, Tri Valley, from Northern California.
Last year, Tri Valley defeated Westchester en route to the 13U World Series championship.
While no one from Westchester would dare say it, revenge had to be on the minds of the 15 boys and three coaches from Southern California. A win would propel Westchester into the winners bracket, putting them on a short path to the championship game. A loss would send the team to the bowels of the losers bracket, and a long haul to the championship.
With that backdrop, Westchester went with ace Anthony Chavez on the mound in the first game against the defending champs.
Westchester struck early with two runs in the first inning, only to watch Tri Valley score once in the second inning.
Chavez baffled the big Tri Valley bats for the next four innings, and Westchester retained its 2 to 1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of a seven-inning game.
Westchester scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out single by A.J. Inatsugu, a run that would prove to be the game-winner,
Chavez walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the seventh. Manager John Lopatto then went to his closer, hard-throwing Grant Craddolph.
Craddolph immediately walked the first two batters he faced, loading the bases with no outs. Craddolph induced the next hitter to ground into a double play, with the runner on third scoring, making the score 3 to 2 with the tying run 90 short feet away. Craddolph got the final out on a weak ground ball to second, saving the victory and advancing Westchester to play the winner of the Hawaii-Arizona game.
After the game, manager Lopatta praised both Tri Valley and Westchester. “Tri Valley has a fantastic program, and they played a great game,” he said.
“We had some timely hitting, and Chavez was a beast tonight. Having a closer like Grant Craddolph is an incredible tool. Grant really showed his intestinal fortitude, pitching out of that jam at the end.”
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scz90230@yahoo.com
