Dateline Surprise, AZ – Westside Baseball's Westchester Babe Ruth 14-and-under team defeated Arizona, 12-3, yesterday in an elimination game in the Pacific Southwest Regional tournament.
Arizona came into the game undefeated, needing a win to clinch a berth in the semi- finals. Westchester, having lost to Hawaii on Monday, needed a win to continue its quest for a shot at a trip to the World Series.
Westchester turned to Loyola High School's Derek Marshall to start the most important game of the tournament. Marshall responded with a 109-pitch complete game victory. He walked two and gave up 11 hits. None of the Arizona runs was earned. Marshall also was the offensive hero, getting three hits and driving in two runs.
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Amazingly, Derek Marshall threw 105 pitches in win. Photo, Scott Zeidman.
The game was scoreless going into the third inning. Dailin Lee took a pitch to his ribs and went to second on a single by Justin Morris. Lee not only stole third base, he stole home and scored the first run of the game. Arizona tied the score with a solo run in the top of the fourth. Westchester answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth on singles by Marshall, Kane Kutler and Jonathan Phelps, and a bases-clearing triple by Lee.
Down 4-1, Arizona rallied for two in the top of the fifth, narrowing Westchester's lead to 4-3. Westchester responded with two in the bottom of the fifth on an Aaron Greenfield single, a walk to Nolan Martinez, a Marshall single and a sacrifice fly by Kutler.
Westchester blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six times. Phelps started the big inning with a double to right center. After Morris walked and Kelvin Murillo reached base, Aaron Grrenfield delivered the knockout blow, a double to left center. Nolan Martinez, Marshall and Saul Martinez all hit run-scoring singles for the final three runs. Marshall shut down Arizona in the seventh, completing the game.
Westchester takes on La Crescenta at 12 noon today. A win is expected to put Westchester in the semi-finals.
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scz90230@yahoo.com
