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Westchester players celebrate after scoring revenge victory. Photo, Scott Zeidman.
Dateline Surprise, AZ – For the first time in its 56-year history, Westchester Babe Ruth is sending two teams to the Babe Ruth World Series.
Westchester starts World Series pool play in Washington on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 2:30, against the Pacific Northwest champion.
Last Wednesday, the 15-and-under team defeated the Northern California representative, Tri-Valley, 8-7, to advance to the World Series in Virginia. On Thursday, the 14-and-under team defeated Tri-Valley, 11-1, at 9 a.m., and then defeated Hawaii 7-2 in the Pacific Southwest Regional Championship at Surprise Stadium to earn a berth in the World Series in Moses Lake, WA.
The championship game was a rematch of the tournament's first game, when Hawaii shut out Westchester 6-0. For the championship, Westchester sent Saul Martinez to the mound. Earlier in the District championship, Martinez threw a no hitter against Torrance. Westchester has such a deep staff that Martinez had not yet pitched in the six game Pacific Southwest Regional Championship.
Hawaii jumped out to an early 1-0 first inning lead, and held it until the top of the third when the Westchester bats caught fire. Dailin Lee led off with a bunt single. Justin Morris singled to left, sending Hawaii starting pitcher Logan Saucedo to the showers. Hawaii turned to ace Koa Eastlock to try to get out of the jam.
Kelvin Murillo greeted Eastlock with a bunt single, loading the bases. Aaron Greenfield promptly singled to left, scoring Lee and Morris and giving Westchester a 2-1 lead. Nolan Martinez singled in Murillo and Saul Martinez walked, loading the bases again. The rattled Eastlock balked, allowing Greenfield to score. Derek Marshall singled in Nolan Martinez, giving Westchester a 5-1 lead. Kane Kutler executed a perfect squeeze bunt, beating the throw to first for a 6-1 Westchester advantage.
Saul Martinez breezed from the third through the sixth innings without giving up a hit. Westchester's Dylan Sledge scored in the top of the seventhinning, giving Westchester a 7-1 lead. Hawaii scored a run on three hits in the seventh making the final 7-2. Murillo and Lee were named to the all-tournament team, and Nolan Martinez was named Most Valuable Player.
The fifteen members of the Westchester 14U team are Brandon Brown, Aaron Greenfield, Dominic Johnson, Kane Kutler, Dailin Lee, Derek Marshall, Nolan Martinez, Saul Martinez, Justin Morris, Kelvin Murillo,Jonathan Phelps, Dylan Sledge, Eli Saucedo, Kailin Woodard and Jason Zeidman. The team is managed by Hector Zamora and is coached by Chris Lynch and Josh Fernandez.
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scz90230@yahoo.com
