DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Post 7 Tucson beat Post 73 Crush (Sunnyside) 5-2 Wednesday night at the Kino Baseball Complex to even up the best-of-3 American Legion State Championship series. The deciding game is slated for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
Tucson (13-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with two outs after Ramses Mada singled in Javier Chavez, who connected on a hit earlier in the inning. Sunnyside (11-5) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out after Jorge Ruiz doubled, Jesus Rodriguez singled and Orlando Cobarrubias was intentionally walked after Victor Hernandez picked up a strikeout. Jordan Mayboca followed with a ground out to score Ruiz and the game was tied at 1-1. Hernandez worked his way out of the jam to limit the damage.
Tucson loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth and then Gennaro Brito singled in Chavez and Emrick Thompson to put Post 7 up 3-1. Aldo Teilon followed that up with another single to score Uziel Castillo and Brito to make it 5-1. Sunnyside threatened again in the bottom of the sixth after Ruiz doubled in Argeniz Mazon to make it 5-2. Rodriguez followed with a single to put two on and then Cobarrubias walked one out later to load the bases. Hernandez induced a fly ball to end another threat.
Hernandez went the distance for the win on four strikeouts. Teilon went 3-4 with two RBIs, Brito had two RBIs, and Mada had an RBI for Tucson. Joshua Barrios collected six strikeouts for Sunnyside, Ruiz went 2-4 with two doubles and an RBI, Mazon went 2-4 with a double and Mayboca had an RBI.
The winner advances to the West Region starting August 2 in Fairfield, California.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BEST OF 3 SERIES
TUESDAY, JULY 18
Post 73 Crush 13, Post 7 Tucson 6
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
Post 73 Crush vs. Post 7 Tucson, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 20 (If necessary)
Post 73 Crush vs. Post 7 Tucson, 6:30 p.m.
WEST REGION FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2
Arizona vs. Texas, 9:30 a.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3
Arizona vs. TBD
WORLD SERIES
AUGUST 11-16
FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER
Named one of “Arizona’s Heart & Sol” by KOLD and Casino del Sol, Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and a 2019 AZ Education News recognition. He was a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is a Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. He earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater and he was recognized by City Councilman Richard Fimbres. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
Recommended for you
