Friday, Jul. 11, 2008
National stars playing for title
By Samantha Salas / ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com
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ReprintTURLOCK -- The Los Baños' 10-year-old National League All-Star team scored another win in their tournament on Tuesday, beating Turlock National South 5-4 at Soderquist Field in Turlock.
Los Baños came through as one of the final two teams to play for the championship against Madera National.
At Tuesday's game, Turlock started their bats early in the first inning with an RBI, followed by another RBI and run plated on a Los Baños error in the second. Los Baños sat behind at zero until the bottom of the second.
James Bostick started the line-up with a single, while Daniel Martinez came through with a double to plate Bostick for Los Baños' first run. Martinez was later brought home on a Turlock error. Chris Corral hit a single, using pinch runner Diego Sandoval, who came home on another error, leaving the score 4-3.
Los Baños' defense kept Turlock's score at bay closing the inning after three batters.
In the bottom of the third, Tyler Wilson started with a single, while Tyler Felix' double plated Wilson to tie the score.
The next inning and a half showed the teams' defensive side, but in the bottom of the fifth, Los Baños kept their offense strong enough to score their final run. Sandoval started with a single, while Felix was walked. Corral came through with a double-RBI to bring in Sandoval for a 5-4 lead over Turlock.
Two strike outs and a fly out in the top of the sixth left Turlock without any more chances to run and Los Baños with a win to advance in the tournament.
In their game on Monday in Chowchilla, the National team brought another win for the tournament 7-6 over Chowchilla.
"They played really good defense the whole game," Wilson said. "They've been playing really good defense the whole tournament, with really good pitching."
As far as their offense on Monday, "their bats came alive when they needed to."
Los Baños was down at the start of the game, but with their quick defense and talented offense, they came back for the win, "which we needed," Wilson said.
With one more out, Los Baños will face elimination in the tournament.
"We have to play Madera twice for the championship in order to win the tournament," he said. "Since Madera is undefeated, we have to beat them twice," following the double elimination rule for the tournament.
The team is getting better with every game, Wilson said of Los Baños, and as it stands with all All-Star teams, they've haven't been playing together all season; they were against each other during Los Baños' regular season.
"They've spent a lot of time together now, and they're getting to bond. They've really pulled together as a team and got it done."
Los Baños faced Madera National last night; their fate was determined by the final score of the game.
Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com.