Sports
Westchester 14 U Baseball Team Defeats Arizona in Regional Championship
The team, comprising players from throughout the Westside needs to win its next game against La Crescenta today for a shot at the semi finals.
By Scott Zeidman
Westside Baseball's Westchester Babe Ruth 14U team defeated Arizona 12-3 Tuesday in an elimination game in the Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest Regional tournament in Surprise, Arizona.
Arizona came into the game undefeated, needing a win to clinch a berth in the semi finals. Westchester, having lost to Hawaii on Monday, needed a win to continue its quest for a shot at a trip to the World Series.
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Westchester turned to Loyola High School's Derek Marshall to start the most important game of the tournament. Marshall responded with a 109 pitch complete game victory. Marshall walked 2 and gave up 11 hits in the victory. None of the Arizona runs were earned. Marshall was also the offensive hero, getting 3 hits and knocking in 2 runs.
The game was tied at 0 going into the third inning. Dailin Lee took a pitch to his ribs, went to second on a single by Justin Morris and then proceeded to steal third and then home, scoring the first run of the game. Arizona tied the game with a solo run in the top of the fourth. Westchester answered with 3 in the bottom of the fourth on singles by Marshall, Kane Kutler and Jonathan Phelps and a bases clearing triple by Lee.
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Down 4-1, Arizona came back for two in the top of the fifth, narrowing Westchester's lead 4-3. Westchester answered with 2 in the bottom of the fifth on an Aaron Greenfield single, a walk to Nolan Martinez, a Marshall single and a sacrifice fly by Kutler.
Westchester blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth, plating 6. Phelps started the big innings off with a double to right center. After Morris walked and Kelvin Murillo reached base, Aaron Greenfield delivered the knockout blow with a double to left center. Nolan Martinez, Marshall and Saul Martinez each singled knocking in the remaining runs. Marshall shut down Arizona in the seventh, completing the game.
Westchester takes on La Crescenta at noon today, with a win likely putting Westchester into the semi finals.
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