Batesville Soccer Club

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31

Jul, 2017

Los Alamitos, California wins Mustang-9 World Series

After Navajoa, Sonora took down Host Walnut, California 7-5 in an "if necessary" Game #14 grudge match Sunday morning, the Mexico Zone Champions were prepared to use that momentum to propel them to victory over undefeated West Zone Champion Los Alamitos, California in the championship game of the Mustang-9 World Series Sunday afternoon. Thanks to a five-run, fourth inning rally in which California was able to do most of its damage with two outs, Los Alamitos came away victorious 12-6 to win the 2017 Mustang-9 World Series title.

Navajoa started off hot in the top of the first inning, as Jose Duarte led off the game by reaching on third strike wild pitch, he stole second and was cashed in on Emiliano Ibarra's triple to center field. Ibarra scored on the next at-bat to Franco Mendoza on a passed ball, completing the scoring in the inning (2-0 Navajoa). Los Alamitos got a run back in the bottom of the first, when Easton Shortle recorded an RBI ground out that scored Andrew Slevcove.

The West Zone Champions took the lead in the bottom of the second thanks to a few miscues by Mexico. Cruz D'Errico was hit by a pitch and he stole second base. Ryan Hurley reached on an error, advancing D'Errico to third, and D'Errico scored on a Gram Ludwig bunt single. Mexico then made the move to bring in Fausto Barreras, but Hurley would score on a passed ball. Slevcove then grounded out, scoring Ludwig. Noah Johnson, who walked earlier in the inning scored on another passed ball to complete the scoring for the inning (5-2 Los Alamitos).

But the Mexico Zone Champions battled right back in the top of the third, cutting the deficit to just a run. Duarte reached base on a fielder's choice and later scored on Mendoza's double to left field. Jonathan Mariscales hit a blooper to left to score Mendoza, but Navajoa could not add on further (5-4 Los Alamitos).

The momentum pendulum swung in Los Alamitos' favor in the bottom of the fourth, ultimately changing the complexion of the game. Johnson started the rally with a RBI single, which scored Hurley. After a pop out, the inning looked lost, but Wyatt Leitner rose to the occasion with a double, which scored Johnson, and then Shortle doubled home Leitner to make it 8-4 Los Alamitos. Nicholas Galluccio singled and stole second. Then, pinch hitter John Shelley slammed a line drive double to left field to score both Shortle and Gallucio (10-4 Los Alamitos).

Navajoa had a chance to retaliate, when it had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the fifth, but Barreras hit into a double play, which ended the scoring threat. Los Alamitos picked up two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, when Ludwig recorded a two-RBI double, which scored D'Errico and Hurley (12-4 Los Alamitos).

Mexico made one last effort to make a comeback when it scored two in the top of the sixth off back-to-back RBI singles by Ibarra and Mendoza, but another double play ended the inning and the game by the final score of 12-6.

Four Los Alamitos players recorded two hits in the contest. Three players scored multiple runs and collected multiple RBI. For Navajoa, the two, three and four hitters did the most damage during the afternoon, as Ibarra, Mendoza and Mariscales garnered eight of the teams 10 hits. The trio also recorded five RBI and two runs scored.

Los Alamitos' Brady McKay was awarded the tournament's Batting Champion award. Over the four-day tournament, McKay led the Mustang-9 World Series with a .667 batting average.

McKay alongside West Zone, NorCal Division, Northeast Region Director Rob Lindsey

The 2017 title marks Los Alamitos' first Mustang-9 World Series championship. It is the state of California's fourth-consecutive title since the tournament was established in 2014.

Stats (Los Alamitos-Navajoa): HERE

Semifinals Stats (Navajoa-Walnut): HERE

Photos: