The San Benito 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star team struggled in the start of the Pacific Southwest Regional tournament in Surprise, Arizona on Tuesday. Behind five errors, San Benito fell to the Tucson Bobcats 7-3 in the opening game of the tournament.
San Benito got off to a fast start, though, taking a 2-0 lead entering the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Vinnie Parker threw four innings but allowed three runs with two outs in the fourth inning to relent the lead.
In the inning, a San Benito error allowed the inning to continue, eventually allowing Tucson to score three runs.
“That really changed the game,” coach Vincent Parker said.
San Benito took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after a Tucson error. James Will hit a hard ground ball to shortstop, causing Tucson to boot the play and allow R.J. Clark to score. The next batter, Josh Nehme, then knocked in Tyler Biersdorff from second base with a single.
Tucson added one run in the fifth inning and three more in the six inning to take control of the game. San Benito threatened in the seventh inning – scoring a single run – but couldn’t come back.
The loss sends San Benito into the elimination bracket Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
