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Little League All-Stars enjoy successes, heartbreaks in post-season play
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PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY DRAGE / For the Range News 11-12 Yr. All Stars: Front, from left: Anthony Gomez, Joseph Franco, Mason Davis, Andrew Siqueiros, Dylan Hudson, Andrew Nolan; and back: Travis Peterson, Mgr. Tony Torres, Anthony Torres, Michael Powers, Coach Art Baltierrez, Jake Shaver, Jacob Drage, Coach Mick Drage and Tyler Hall. |
By Steve Reno/Arizona Range News
A pair of Willcox Little League All-Star teams were competitive but failed to advance out of district play last week.
The 9-10 year-old stars were on a roll in their eight-team tournament at Nogales after an 18-3 pounding of Huachuca City on Thursday, July 6. They had Douglas on the ropes in the second round during a 2-2 battle Friday before the wheels came off in the fourth inning of an eventual 10-5 loss.
The Friday night setback went well after midnight because of storm delays, said coach Sean Chaffey. Suddenly an exhausted bunch had to play Benson in noon-day heat during an elimination game Saturday. They fell behind those San Pedro Valley stars 3-0 in the first before rallying to tie during a three-run third. But the opponents pulled away with a five-run fourth inning to eliminate Willcox 8-5.
"We should have beat Douglas," said coach Chaffey. "Then we went out tired in the heat next day and couldn't put it back together, but the kids' effort was excellent."
Nick Rodriguez had four hits over the first two games including a home run. Layson Smyer was the winner in the Huachuca City game with seven strikeout victims, while Jonathan Regnier kept them in the second game by allowing Douglas just five hits. Jarek Nolan struck-out five as the starter against Benson. Host Nogales eventually won the tournament.
The 11-12 year-old major league all-stars ventured to Douglas and started slow in their tournament. They trailed Rio Rico 2-0 on Thursday after two innings when rain delayed the remainder of the contest. Willcox tied it when play resumed Friday on a third-inning Anthony Gomez two-run homer.
Starting pitcher Jake Shaver kept it close with an eight-strikeout, one-hit performance through five innings. However, the opponents blew it open with a 10-run sixth inning as "we tired in the heat of a 5 p.m. game," said coach Tony Torres of the 13-2 loss.
Willcox bounced back with a 12-3 win over Benson on Saturday as Jacob Drage struck-out seven over five innings of work and allowed just three hits. Tyler Hall went 3 for 3 at the plate while Anthony Torres and Mason Davis combined for another four hits.
They were unable to keep pace with Nogales in a 12-3 elimination loss Monday night, however. Willcox trailed 12-0 before Gomez homered again to avoid the shutout. The tournament title was eventually captured by host Douglas.
The 9-10 year-old stars were on a roll in their eight-team tournament at Nogales after an 18-3 pounding of Huachuca City on Thursday, July 6. They had Douglas on the ropes in the second round during a 2-2 battle Friday before the wheels came off in the fourth inning of an eventual 10-5 loss.
The Friday night setback went well after midnight because of storm delays, said coach Sean Chaffey. Suddenly an exhausted bunch had to play Benson in noon-day heat during an elimination game Saturday. They fell behind those San Pedro Valley stars 3-0 in the first before rallying to tie during a three-run third. But the opponents pulled away with a five-run fourth inning to eliminate Willcox 8-5.
"We should have beat Douglas," said coach Chaffey. "Then we went out tired in the heat next day and couldn't put it back together, but the kids' effort was excellent."
Nick Rodriguez had four hits over the first two games including a home run. Layson Smyer was the winner in the Huachuca City game with seven strikeout victims, while Jonathan Regnier kept them in the second game by allowing Douglas just five hits. Jarek Nolan struck-out five as the starter against Benson. Host Nogales eventually won the tournament.
The 11-12 year-old major league all-stars ventured to Douglas and started slow in their tournament. They trailed Rio Rico 2-0 on Thursday after two innings when rain delayed the remainder of the contest. Willcox tied it when play resumed Friday on a third-inning Anthony Gomez two-run homer.
Starting pitcher Jake Shaver kept it close with an eight-strikeout, one-hit performance through five innings. However, the opponents blew it open with a 10-run sixth inning as "we tired in the heat of a 5 p.m. game," said coach Tony Torres of the 13-2 loss.
Willcox bounced back with a 12-3 win over Benson on Saturday as Jacob Drage struck-out seven over five innings of work and allowed just three hits. Tyler Hall went 3 for 3 at the plate while Anthony Torres and Mason Davis combined for another four hits.
They were unable to keep pace with Nogales in a 12-3 elimination loss Monday night, however. Willcox trailed 12-0 before Gomez homered again to avoid the shutout. The tournament title was eventually captured by host Douglas.
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