Rincon Little League Majors All-Stars applied the pressure in the fifth and sixth innings against Sunnyside Little League Majors All-Stars, getting its first two batters in scoring position in each inning, but it could not break the resolve of Sunnyside starter Jaylee Abraham and reliever Eli Urias.
Sunnyside withstood Rincon’s threat to earn a 1-0 victory in the District 12 elimination-bracket final Wednesday night at Field of Dreams Park.
“The boys can play against adversity,” Sunnyside manager David Gandarela said. “They’re a great group of kids. Rincon’s a tough team. They’re well-coached. They’re always a tough team every year. … It was a great game. My neck hurts, I’m so tense.”
Sunnyside LL Majors All-Stars manager David Gandarela talks about 1-0 win over Rincon in D12 elimination final. Sunnyside turned back Rincon in 5th & 6th stranding runners in scoring position. Sunnyside plays Copper Hills in the championship round starting tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/MtmzKKI3fv
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 7, 2022
Sunnyside will play Copper Hills in the championship round Thursday night at 6:30 at Field of Dreams. If Sunnyside wins, the teams play a deciding game Friday night. If Copper Hills wins, it advances to the state tournament, to be played at Litchfield Park starting July 16.
This is the age bracket (10 to 12) that advances to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series.
Gandarela had a gut feeling when he awoke Wednesday morning that starting Abraham on the mound would be a wise move, saving Urias and Christian Moran — two of his top pitchers — for the possible two games against Copper Hills.
Sunnyside LL Majors All-Stars pitcher Jaylee Abraham (also a talented football player who has played in national events) pitched 5-plus quality innings scattering five hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Also went 2 for 3 at the plate. pic.twitter.com/CZuXBaiI1U
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 7, 2022
Abraham, a high-level football player who has played in national showcase events, came through with a five-inning performance scattering five hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
“It felt good; I know I have a good defense behind me and they’ve got me,” said Abraham, who is competing in football and baseball for the first time in two years after nursing injuries. “I like to enjoy the sport (baseball). I enjoy two sports. I like playing them.”
Abraham and Rincon starter Lucas Johnson were engaged in a pitcher’s duel throughout their time on the mound.
The game was scoreless through three innings with the teams combining for only five singles with only one walk allowed.
Sunnyside broke through with the game’s only run in the fourth inning after Jake Ogas and pinch-hitter Diego Burrel hit back-to-back singles with one out. After Johnson recorded a strikeout for the second out, pinch-hitter David Blasi reached on an error, allowing Ogas to score.
Sunnyside LL Majors All-Stars reliever Eli Urias & batterymate Christian Moran talk about Urias’ save retiring 3 straight batters to end the game after Rincon put runners on second and third with no outs. Sunnyside’s 1-0 win puts it in D12 championship round vs. Copper Hills. pic.twitter.com/77i79cxLFB
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 7, 2022
Johnson finished allowing five hits without an earned run in four innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
Rincon pinch-hitter Kamren Woodworth and Logan Holaway led off the fifth inning with consecutive singles. A groundout to Abraham allowed Woodworth and Holaway to advance a base.
A suicide-squeeze bunt attempt resulted in Abraham fielding the ball and tagging out Woodworth as he tried to head to home plate. The inning ended with a groundout to second base.
After Ty Welch reached on an error and John Nyman singled to lead off the sixth for Rincon, Abraham was relieved by Urias. Welch had moved to third on Nyman’s single, and Nyman stole second base after the pitching change.
Sunnyside LL Majors All-Stars defeat Rincon LL Majors All-Stars 1-0 to advance to the District 12 championship round tomorrow against Copper Hills. This is the age group that goes to Williamsport. pic.twitter.com/7iykCeFgko
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 7, 2022
Urias then struck out the the first two batters he faced and got the last batter to ground out to him.
“It felt good, a little nervous,” Urias, who hails from Caborca, Sonora, said through Moran, his batterymate. “We pulled it off. We got the three outs so we can carry on.”
Sunnyside has yet to play Copper Hills in the District 12 tournament.
Copper Hills is 3-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents by a combined 27-2. Sunnyside lost in the opening round to Rincon but has won four straight elimination games to reach the championship round.
DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
D-5 SOFTBALL 8-10: THORNYDALE
D-8 SOFTBALL 8-10: WILLCOX
D-12 SOFTBALL 8-10: SUNNYSIDE
D-12 SOFTBALL 9-11: RINCON
D-5 SOFTBALL 10-12: THORNYDALE
D-8 SOFTBALL 10-12: SIERRA VISTA PONYTAIL
D-12 SOFTBALL 10-12: SUNNYSIDE
D-5 SOFTBALL JUNIORS: MARANA
D-8 SOFTBALL JUNIORS: BENSON SAN PEDRO
D-12 SOFTBALL JUNIORS: SUNNYSIDE
D-5 BASEBALL 8-10: CANYON VIEW
D-8 BASEBALL 8-10: NOGALES
D-12 BASEBALL 8-10: RINCON
D-5 BASEBALL 9-11: CANYON VIEW
D-8 BASEBALL 9-11: NOGALES
D-12 BASEBALL 9-11: RINCON
D-5 BASEBALL 10-12: MARANA
D-5 BASEBALL 50/70: WESTERN
D-8 BASEBALL 50/70: NOGALES
D-12 BASEBALL 50/70: SUNNYSIDE
D-5 BASEBALL JUNIORS: WESTERN
D-8 BASEBALL JUNIORS: NOGALES
D-12 BASEBALL JUNIORS: SUNNYSIDE
D-8 BASEBALL SENIORS: NOGALES
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
D-12 BASEBALL 8-10: PURPLE HEART
Rincon 8, Sunnyside 1 (Championship)
D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Sunnyside 1, Rincon 0
THURSDAY, JULY 7
D-8 BASEBALL 10-12: NOGALES
Douglas vs. Nogales, 5 p.m.
Sierra Vista vs. Benson San Pedro, 8 p.m. (Elimination)
D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills vs. Sunnyside, 6:30 p.m. (Championship)
FRIDAY, JULY 8
D-8 BASEBALL 10-12: NOGALES
Elimination Game, 8 p.m.
D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills vs. Sunnyside, 6:30 p.m. (If Game)
STATE 9-11 SOFTBALL: FOUNTAIN HILLS
Rincon vs. D-3, 6:30 p.m.
STATE MAJORS SOFTBALL: CAMP VERDE
Thornydale vs. D-10, 5:30 p.m.
Sierra Vista vs. D-1, 5:30 p.m.
STATE JUNIORS SOFTBALL: AVONDALE
Thornydale vs. Benson San Pedro, 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 9
D-8 BASEBALL 10-12: NOGALES
Championship Game, Noon
STATE JUNIORS BASEBALL: CURTIS/MEHL
Sunnyside vs. Flagstaff D-1, 8 a.m. (Curtis)
Nogales vs. Westwood D-7, 10 a.m. (Mehl)
Western vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. (Curtis)
STATE MAJORS SOFTBALL: CAMP VERDE
Sunnyside vs. TBD, 8 p.m.
STATE JUNIORS SOFTBALL: AVONDALE
Sunnyside vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m.
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