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Sunnyside forces deciding game for District 12 Majors championship

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Sunnyside LL Majors All-Star Jaylee Abraham scored in each of this three plate appearances in his team’s 5-0 win over Copper Hills on Thursday night (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

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The Sunnyside Little League Majors All-Stars have played dominantly after losing their opening-round game to Rincon in the District 12 tournament last week.

Its five-game winning streak in elimination games has included outscoring opponents 36-5 while allowing only one run in the last four games.

“The kids are ready to go; they’re hungry,” Sunnyside manager David Gandarela said. “That first loss? It really did something to them. Five games now, playing for our lives. … They’re gamers. That loss really put a fire under them.”

The string of effective play continued with Thursday’s 5-0 win over previously unbeaten Copper Hills in the championship round at Field of Dreams Park.

Sunnyside and Copper Hills will play a deciding game Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Field of Dreams for the District 12 title and the right to advance to the state tournament at Litchfield Park starting July 16.

“We have to go all out (in Friday’s game),” said Sunnyside catcher Christian Moran, who went 3 for 3 with a two-run double. “Gotta make sure we have no errors, get hits and keep our heads up at all times.”

Moran and batterymate Eli Urias, the starter who had nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits in 4 2/3 innings, agreed Sunnyside must play the same as it has played the last five games.

Urias followed up his save Wednesday night in a 1-0 victory over Rincon (retiring the last three batters) by never allowing Copper Hills to have a prolonged rally Thursday.

When Jesus Castillo hit a two-out double in the first inning for Copper Hills, Urias struck out the next batter. After walking the first two batters in the fourth, he retired the next three batters, two by strikeout to preserve Sunnyside’s 3-0 lead at the time.

“I’m proud of what he did. He shut down a good hitting team,” Gandarela said. “He pitched a hell of a game.”

Urias, who is from Caborca, Sonora, said he was “nervous” yet “confident” on the mound.

Sunnyside’s lineup, fueled by Jaylee Abraham and Moran in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup, respectively, gave Urias an immediate lead to gain that confidence.

Sunnyside starter Eli Urias struck out nine batters in 4 2/3 innings (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

Abraham, who went 2 for 2 with three runs, put Sunnyside ahead 1-0 in the first inning after hitting a single with two outs, moving to third on Moran’s single and then scoring on a double-steal.

Abraham again fueled a rally with a single with two outs in the third inning and scoring all the way from first on Moran’s infield single and subesquent errant throw trying to get Moran out at first base.

The lead increased to 3-0 in the fourth inning on another double-steal attempt with Jake Ogas, who reached on an error to lead off the inning, ran home from third after Julian Miranda tried to steal second and was caught in a pickle.

Moran gave Sunnyside its 5-0 lead with a two-run double in the fifth inning, scoring Urias and Abraham (both of whom walked).

“I felt confident,” Moran said of his 3-for-3 performance. “Gotta get the job done. Gotta do what we’ve gotta do.”

Urias was relieved by Alex Ramirez with two outs in the fifth inning after Alex Guzman doubled and Cole Senne walked. The bases became loaded when Jesus Castillo walked. Ramirez was behind 3-0 in the count against the next batter but rallied to get three straight strikes to preserve the shutout.

Ramirez got the first two batters out in the sixth and Nomar Guadaramma closed the door getting the last batter to pop out to a diving Ogas at first base.

“I’m excited,” Gandarela said about Friday’s deciding game with Copper Hills. “That’s what we came for. I’m glad that we’re here — five wins in a row. I’m sure the kids are beat, but I think they’re going to dig deep.

“They’ll pull through and lay it all on the field tomorrow. It’s going to be a great ballgame.”

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

THURSDAY, JULY 7

D-8 BASEBALL 10-12: NOGALES
Douglas 16, Nogales 9
Sierra Vista 11, Benson-San Pedro 1 (Elimination)

D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Sunnyside 5, Copper Hills 0 (Sunnyside forces deciding championship game)

FRIDAY, JULY 8

D-8 BASEBALL 10-12: NOGALES
Nogales vs. Sierra Vista, 6 p.m. (Elimination)

D-12 BASEBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills vs. Sunnyside, 6:30 p.m. (Championship)

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
Douglas vs. TBD, Noon (Championship)

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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