Westchester defeated Twin Cities of Washington 6 to 3 this afternoon in Murray, Utah in a matinee game in the Babe Ruth 14U World Series.
Westchester now has a 2-1 record. Twin Cities came into the game undefeated, having beaten Utah on Sunday evening.
Westchester jumped to an early 3 to 0 lead on a double by Anthony Chavez, Carlos Jacobo taking a pitch in his ribs, and Avery Allen singling to center, scoring Chavez.
Starting pitcher Ethan Lazar doubled in two, giving Westchester a 3 to 0 lead.
Twin Cities scored single runs in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly and in the bottom of the fourth on a botched double play attempt, narrowing the gap to 3 to 2.
After Erin Inatsugu (mother or right fielder AJ Inatsugu) gave a rousing rendition of “God Bless America,” the Westchester bats caught fire.
Jacobo led off with a ground-rule double to left field. Allen reached on a fielder's choice on a grounder to shortstop, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Inatsugu bunted into a force play, bringing up pinch-hitter Grant Craddolph.
Craddolph grounded to shortstop, but the shortstop threw the ball away, allowing Allen to score, Inatsugu to take third and Craddolph to take second. Pinch-hitting Matthew Kaplan struck out, bringing up Christian Amador.
With Amador at the plate, the Twin Cities pitcher threw an attempted pick off into center field, allowing Inatsugu to score and Craddolph to take third. Amador ripped a single to center, scoring Craddolph, giving Westchester a 6 to 2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Craddolph relieved Lazar on the mound to begin the bottom of the fifth Inning. He immediately gave up back-to- back hits. After getting two outs, Craddolph walked pitcher Fletcher Brown on four pitches. With the bases loaded, Craddolph struck out Casey Wassen to end the threat.
Matthew Kanfer relieved Craddolph and immediately gave up a leadoff double and a single, putting runners at first and third. Kanfer got the next two batters before giving up a scoring single.
Kanfer induced the next hitter to ground out, ending the inning with Westchester leading 6 to 3 after six innings.
Westchester failed to score in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for a possible Twin Cities comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In an unusual and brilliant move, the Westchester manager John Lopatto went back to Craddolph to close the game.
Craddolph has been Westchester's dominant closer throughout the tournament. Despite pitching the fifth inning, and playing short in the sixth, Lopatto reinserted Craddolph on the mound to close the game.
Craddolph got the first batter to ground out to shortstop. The second batter reached safely on an error and the next batter singled to center, putting runners on first and second with one out.
Twin Cities' Kevin Brettison flew out to left for the second out of the inning.
Jordan Wood grounded out to end the game.
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scott.zeidman@laslots.com
