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Western outlasts Tanque Verde in first game of District 5 50/70 championship series

By Javier Morales

Posted on June 26, 2022

*Brian Alday talks to his Western Little League 50/70 All-Stars team (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)*

Western Little League had to shift its focus after learning it was playing a different opponent than originally scheduled Saturday in the District 5 50/70 All-Stars tournament at Arthur Pack Regional Park.

Thornydale was slated to face Western in a winner’s bracket game Saturday night but Western manager Brian Alday and his team found out midday that they would face Tanque Verde instead.

“We were going to handle it any way, whoever it was that we were going to play,” said Alday, whose team defeated Tanque Verde 11-10 on Saturday night. “We still have to strap it on and get out on the field and play … it didn’t matter who we were going to play.”

Multi-talented Brian Alday coached Western LL 50-70 All-Stars to win in the opening game of the District 5 championship series. Nephew and son of late Rich and Sammy Alday, respectively, admin at Apollo MS, UA/Pima PA announcer, ex-local HS baseball coach & Air Natl Guard member. pic.twitter.com/yszVHc2lpl

— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2022

Thornydale, which defeated Tanque Verde 10-3 on Friday, was disqualified from the tournament by Little League International Tournament officials for an undisclosed reason.

Western is playing Tanque Verde in a best-of-three series for the district title and opportunity to play in the state tournament in Nogales starting July 11. The second game of the series is Monday at Arthur Pack at 6:30 p.m.

Tanque Verde proved to be a tough opponent for Western starting with Alex Page’s two-run home run in the first inning over the center field fence that put his team ahead 3-2.

“It was way too close for comfort; it didn’t seem like we could stop them,” said Alday, who is the nephew and son of the late Rich and Sammy Alday, respectively.

Rich Alday is a former Pima Community College and New Mexico baseball coach, and Sammy Alday was a long-time educator in the Sunnyside Unified School District who coached Sunnyside’s softball program.

“It didn’t seem like we could stop them and get a 1-2-3 inning,” Brian Alday continued. “First game for us so a little jitters, guys not knowing where to be in certain situations. Defense, we threw the ball around a lot. Luckily, we were able to come back with our offense and score some runs.”

Western LL 50-70 All-Stars catcher Marcio Carpio went 3 for 3 with four RBIs in his team’s 11-10 win over Tanque Verde in the first game of a best-of-three District 5 championship series. pic.twitter.com/6b5nkYirFS

— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2022

Tanque Verde’s lead increased to 6-2 with a three-run second inning on an RBI double by Rudy Turkal and RBI singles by Gustavo Hurtado and Jareth Nyllind.

Western’s bats awoke in the third inning with a six-run rally to take an 8-6 lead.

Marcio Carpio’s two-run single ignited the rally. The catcher went 3 for 3 with four RBIs.

“I was just trying to hit the ball,” said Carpio, who split time this season at the Majors and Intermediate (50/70) levels.

In the back-and-forth affair, Tanque Verde scored two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.

Hurtado’s RBI single in the fifth put his team ahead 10-8.

Western put together its winning rally in the sixth with three runs.

Xavier Silvas-Almazon of Western LL 50/70 All-Stars went 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs that came on a triple in the sixth inning that put his team ahead in the 11-10 win over Tanque Verde. pic.twitter.com/QcM4zqlrsP

— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2022

Jesus Valencia walked to lead off the inning, and with one out, Joseph Leyva was hit by a pitch. Xavier Silvas-Almazon followed with a deep fly to right field that bounced just before reaching the fence. Valenzuela and Leyva scored to tie the game at 10.

Carpio followed with the game-winning single, plating Silvas-Almazon, who went 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs.

“Personally, I thought it was going out but I wasn’t sure,” Silvas-Almazon said. “I watched it a little and started jogging, and that’s my mistake. Instead of just watching it, I should have run the entire time.”

Alday and his staff will take the triple, especially with Carpio the next batter. Silvas-Almazon and Carpio combined for five hits and six RBIs as the Nos. 3 and 4 batters, respectively.

“It makes me happy that I helped out the team,” Silvas-Almazon said. “If they would’ve had me bunt I would not be mad, either, because it’s the same thing. You’re still helping out your team. And it gives a team confidence a lot of times. It just keeps on building up.”

Aaron Lizarraga pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to end the game. He retired the side in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

MONDAY, JUNE 27

D-5 SOFTBALL JUNIORS: ARTHUR PACK
Marana vs. Thornydale, 6:30 p.m.

D-5 BASEBALL 8-10: MEHL
Continental Ranch vs. Tanque Verde, 6:30 p.m. (Elimination)

D-5 BASEBALL 9-11: CURTIS
Thornydale vs. CDO, 6:30 p.m. (Elimination)

D-5 BASEBALL 10-12: ORA MAE
CDO vs. Canyon View, 6:30 p.m. (Elimination)

D-5 BASEBALL 50/70: ARTHUR PACK
Western vs. Tanque Verde, 6:30 p.m. (Championship)

D-12 BASEBALL 9-11: FIELD OF DREAMS
Los Ninos vs. Rincon, 5:15 p.m. (Elimination)
Copper Hills vs. Randolph, 7:45 p.m. (Elimination)

D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Randolph vs. Copper Hills, 6:30 p.m.

D-12 JUNIOR BASEBALL: JESSE OWENS
Sunnyside vs. Randolph, 5 p.m.
Copper Hills vs. Cactus, 7:45 p.m. (Elimination)

D-12 SOFTBALL 8-10: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills vs. Southwestern, 7:45 p.m.

D-12 SOFTBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills vs. Sunnyside, 5:15 p.m. (Championship)