Southern
Nevada Bulldogs Survive Scare
Last Inning Rally Clinches Fall Nationals Title
DOS ESCUELAS PARK – The Southern Nevada Bulldogs
needed an eight run sixth inning to get past the Simi Valley,
Calif. Predators in the 2004 Triple Crown 11 & Under
Fall National Championships in Henderson.
It was a true
pitcher's dual to start the championship game with Jake DiDonato on
the mound for the Bulldogs facing the Predator’s Vito Massina. Each starter allowed a smattering of hits
before the Bulldogs took the lead
in the top of the third.
Bulldog lead-off hitter Morgan Stotts smacked a double
and then advanced on a wild pitch. Slugger Bryce
Harper was intentionally walked and then stole second. Joey
Gallo ground into a fielder’s choice, scoring Stotts, and
then Harper scored on a passed ball. The
pitching dual was broken and the Southern Nevada Bulldogs
enjoyed a narrow
2-0 lead.
The Predators rallied in the bottom of the fifth
inning to take the lead away. Bulldog pitcher Jake DiDonato was
replaced by Morgan Stotts in the fourth,
and the Predators went on the attack in the fifth. Stotts,
starting to tire, walked Cody Sulflow,
gave up a single to Oscar
Tinjaca and picked off Sulflow at
second base. He then walked Richard
Mullaney and Scott Geirman to
load the bases. Stotts was
replaced by Dugan Hicks and the Predators
responded with a single by Chad Woodard and
a double by Scott
Hackenberry to clear the bases. With two hits,
the Predators took the lead 3-2 into the last inning
of the championship game. The Bulldogs were fired up in the top of the sixth to
regain the lead they lost. The bats were roaring with six
singles and three doubles against the Predators. Singles
by Josh Anderson, Jake Chiancone and Chris
Velgos got the
bases loaded and Tyler Baker singled in the first run.
A single by Morgan Stotts scored Chiancone and then Velgos and Baker scored on a solid double to right field by Dugan
Hicks. Bryce Harper came to the plate and doubled in Stotts and Hicks before advancing to third on a single by Joey
Gallo. Gallo stole second and scored with Harper on a double
by Anderson, who led off the inning. He was left stranded
after stealing third, but the Bulldogs went into the bottom
of the sixth with a solid 10-3 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Predators went back on
the attack. Daniel Dungan singled and then advanced to
second on a single by Cody Sulflow. A Bulldog error loaded
the bases for Richard Mullaney, who drove the ball deep
enough for a sacrifice fly scoring Dungan. But Bulldog
closer Joey Gallo shut down the offense the rest of the
inning with an infield fly and a ground out to preserve
the title for the Southern Nevada Bulldogs.
The road to the championship game wasn’t exactly
a cake walk for the Southern Nevada Bulldogs. They were
2-1 in seed play before taking the second seed and defeating
the Southern California Sundevils 13-5. In the semis, they
edged by a powerful NW Shockers team from Sammamish, Wash.
The Bulldogs got the scoring started in the second inning
under a scorching noontime sun. Joey Gallo doubled
to deep center field to start the inning and then advanced
to third
on a single by the pitcher Josh Anderson. Bruce
Lewallen ripped a double
up the left field line scoring Gallo. Chris
Velgos then sacrificed home Anderson with
a long fly. At the end of the inning, the Bulldogs had
a 2-0 lead.
The Shockers came back in the top of the third with a
lead-off double by Ian Sagtol. He advanced to third on
a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice by Jake
Gober.
Bulldog pitcher Josh Anderson got a groundout and strikeout
to end the inning to preserve the 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the bottom of the
third when Tyler Baker opened the inning with a double
and then scored on a triple from Dugan Hicks. Hicks scored
on a sacrifice by Bryce Harper and the Bulldogs extended
their lead to 4-1.
The Shockers were back on the attack when Tyler
Campbell singled, stole
second, and then advanced to third on a single by Keenan
Force. Force stole second and
then Ian
Sagtol came up and scored Campbell on
a sacrifice. Force moved
to third and was stranded with Sagtol at
second. The Shockers cut the lead to 4-2.
Insurance runs were on the mind of the Southern Nevada
Bulldogs in the bottom of the fifth. Morgan Stotts doubled
and then was driven in by Dugan Hicks. The 5-2 lead was
enough for Jake DiDonato to come in for the top of the
sixth and save the semifinal victory for the Southern Nevada
Bulldogs.
Winning the 11 & Under title at the 2004 Triple Crown
Fall Nationals qualifies the Southern Nevada Bulldogs
for the Triple Crown World Series coming to Steamboat Springs,
Colo. Teams from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Utah and
Washington, as well as Nevada competed in the recent
local
competition.
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