Dateline Murray, Utah – The Westchester 14U Babe Ruth All-Star team has made it a habit of winning when necessary, having faced numerous win-or-go-home games.
Friday night, amid the pomp and circumstances of the World Series semifinals, Westchester found itself, yet again, in an elimination game.
New Jersey had earned the No. 1 seed in the National Division with a 3-1 record, the same record as Westchester, and a first-round bye. A victory over the well-rested New Jersey team would send Westchester to the World Series championship; a loss would send the team packing for a 700-mile trip home.
Manager John Lopatto chose hard-throwing lefthander Matthew Kaplan to start on the mound against the boys from Jersey. Kaplan pitched well in Westchester's loss a five days earlier to Florida, and he earned a save by getting the final five outs in Westchester's elimination-game victory against Utah on Wednesday.
New Jersey jumped off to an early 3 to 1 lead after three innings. Westchester had threatened early, loading the bases loaded with no one out. They settled for one run.
The pace picked up in the top of the fourth when Kaplan and Matthew Kamfer walked, bringing Grant Craddolph to the plate. After the New Jersey manager visited his pitcher, Craddolph belted the first pitch 390 feet over the left field fence, giving Westchester a 4 to 3 lead.
New Jersey came right back, scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth on a bases- loaded double, taking a 6 to 4 lead. New Jersey scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth, extending its lead to 7 to 4. Westchester wasn't done, though. In the top of the sixth, LJ Gilliam singled and Craddolph walked. Anthony Chavez knocked in both on a single to center.
After Chavez stole second, he scored on an Ethan Lazar single to right. Lazar stole second and scored on a Carlos Jacobo single to left, giving Westchester an 8 to 7 lead.
New Jersey tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Westchester was unable to score in the top of the seventh. New Jersey's leadoff hitter doubled in the bottom of the seventh. After a fly out, the next New Jersey batter hit a soft ground ball into right field, knocking in the winning run, ending the game and Westchester's season.
Westchester had an incredible run in its road to the World Series. Westchester won its local district title, going 4-0. It then won the State tournament, again going 4-0. Next, Westchester won the Pacific Southwest Region, defeating teams from the Western United States, winning five of six games. In the World Series, facing the best of the tens of thousands of Babe Ruth all-star teams, Westchester finished third in the country, going 3-1 in pool play. They defeated Missouri before coming up one run short against New Jersey.
Defensive specialist Cristian Amador talked about it. “We had an amazing run,” he said. “No one expected us to go this far. I'm excited to be part of this team.”
Amador said that Manager John Lopatto “did a great job putting 15 fantastic players together, each with different skills. I can't wait for next season when we win it all.”
“I've never played with such great teammates,” said pitcher Angel de la Torre who was on the mound at the end of the game. “This was a special team. I'm sure I will never forget this wonderful experience.”
Jason Zeidman, taking in the finality of the situation, said he could “thank John enough for choosing me. I learned so much. I made a bunch of new friends, and I had a great experience.”
The fifteen members of the Westchester All Stars are Avery Allen, Cristian Anador, Jordan Caines, Reggie Castro, Anthony Chavez, Grant Craddolph, Angel de la Torre, LJ Gilliam, AJ Inatsugu, Carlos Jacobo, Matthew Kanfer, Matthew Kaplan, Ethan Lazar, Mario Morales and Jason Zeidman. The team was managed by John Lopatto and coached by Barry Craddolph and Alex Galaviz.
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scott.zeidman@laslots.com
