The Westchester 14U Babe Ruth All- Stars defeated Hawaii twice on Saturday in Surprise, AZ, to earn the Pacific Southwest Regional Title.
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Here were the 18 brightest smiles in Surprise, AZ, on Saturday after Westchester Babe Ruth All-Stars Swept Hawaii
The win sends the Westchester 15 to the Babe Ruth World Series in Murray, Utah, beginning on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Hawaii started the day undefeated.
But they couldn't handle Westchester's ace Anthony Chavez or hard throwing closer Grant Craddolph.
Westchester jumped out to a 5 to 0 lead, but Hawaii caught up in the fifth inning, 5 to 5. The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh and final inning.
Chavez led off the seventh for Westchester by getting hit by a pitch. Carlos Jacobo followed Chavez with a line single to right. A.J. Inatsugu sacrificed the runners to second and third. Hawaii intentionally walked Avery Allen to load the bases.
Ethan Lazar belted a fly ball to right, scoring Chavez with the winning run.
Game Two between the same teams followed 30 minutes later, and it was apparent that the 110-degree temperature was taking a toll on Hawaii.
Westchester called upon Matthew Kaplan to start the game on two days’ rest. He was the winning pitcher against Nevada on Wednesday and got the save on Friday. Kaplan did not give up a run in either game.
He dominated Hawaii, throwing a four-hit complete game shutout in Westchester's 4-0 title clinching game.
Amazingly, Kaplan was left off of the all-tournament team. However, Chavez and Allen both made that team, and Carlos Jacobo was named the Most Outstanding Player.
Other Westchester players easily could have earned all-tournament honors, including second basemen Christian Amador who provided stellar defense and timely hitting, and Matthew Kanfer who was involved in virtually every Westchester big inning.
Jacobo was predictably humble about winning the Most Outstanding Award. “So many players contributed to our tournament victory,” he said. “It's impossible to pick just one player. “While I won the award, it is certainly a team award, not an individual award. I'm excited about the chance to go to the World Series. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event. I can't wait to get there.”
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scott.zeidman@laslots.com
