One team playing out the string – the Rockies – and another team
hoping for a miracle shot at second place in the second half – the
Marlins – got together Friday night at blustery Vet’s Park in a
late-season Hollister National Little League Majors Division
contest.
One team playing out the string – the Rockies – and another team hoping for a miracle shot at second place in the second half – the Marlins – got together Friday night at blustery Vet’s Park in a late-season Hollister National Little League Majors Division contest.
The last place Rockies gave a good account of themselves before finally bowing 9-2. The Marlins, now 5-3 in the second half, scored seven of their nine runs in the final two innings to break open the game late.
The visiting Marlins pushed two across in the first inning against Rockies starter Felipe Davila Jr. Oscar Ramirez walked, then Marcus Synegal cracked a double down the left field line. Daniel Arevalo lined out to Rockies shortstop Joey Valencia, but Andy Langone walked to load the bases.
Davila fanned the next batter for the second out, however a fielding error allowed Ramirez to score. Synegal quickly tallied on a wild pitch for the inning’s second run.
The Rockies, 1-7 in the second half, helped themselves in the third inning defensively. Langone hit a hard one-hopper to Jason Kutzer at third base. Kutzer gracefully bare-handed the
ball after it kicked up off his glove then rifled to first to throw out Langone. After Ryan Mullen reached first on an error, Davila came in on a short pop-up from Jacob Funk. The speedy Davila made the catch and threw to first to double up Mullen.
In the fourth, the Rockies got a break when a ground ball by Greg Gengel ticketed to right field for a single, hit Gareth McFall, who was running from first towards second. McFall was correctly ruled out and Gengel was safe at first on the fielder’s choice play.
The Marlins finally timed Davila in the fifth. Synegal singled for his second hit of the game and was wild pitched to second. Arevalo chopped a single over third base to drive in Synegal for a 3-0 Marlins lead. Arevalo stole second, then Rockies catcher Paul Casarez made a fine grab of a pop foul to the right of home plate off the bat of Langone.
Mullen singled Arevalo home. A fielder’s choice and a walk to Eddie Orozco, who was on base all four times up, put a runner in scoring position for McFall. McFall hit the first pitch through the box and it was 5-0 Marlins.
The Marlins put the game away in the sixth with four runs, the big blow being a two-run double by Mullen, which gave him 3 RBI in the game. The right-handed hitting Synegal had helped set things up with a drag bunt from the left side of the plate for his third hit of the game. He also scored three of the Marlins nine runs with some good baserunning.
The Marlins would have had another run on the board in the sixth frame, but Funk was ruled an ineligible runner because he left early from first base. Normally, a dead ball would have been ruled with Funk merely going back to first. However, the call wasn’t made until Orozco, who hit a dribbler in front of home plate, was safe at first on a fielding error. The ball went down the line and the Rockies retrieved the ball, threw into home and the throw went awry. That allowed McFall to score and Orozco, a real pest on the bases, to go to third. The ruling on Funk, though, made it all for naught and Orozco was told to retreat back to first base. He eventually scored on a passed ball anyway.
The Rockies tallied a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth, both coming on wild pitches. Casarez, who lined out to left and had a double in a fine all-around game, and Kutzer , did the honors of toeing the plate.
The winning pitcher was Langone, who pitched five innings, struck out nine batters and yielded four hits relying on a roundhouse curve as his best pitch. Jeff Jones mopped up in the sixth for the Marlins.
Marlins manager Reggie Synegal stated the Rockies gained his respect.
“That was the best I have seen the Rockies play,” said Synegal. “Those kids really impressed me an hung in there. They made some great defensive plays.”
The Marlins, who have two games remaining, are off until Thursday until they play the Diamondbacks. Synegal’s club, which was the second place team in the first half via a tiebreaker over the Braves, is guaranteed a one-game playoff on June 17 against the second place winner of the second half. The winner would advance to the Tournament of Champions.
Local Little League action continues tonight when the National League Braves and Cardinals meet in a Majors game on Field 2 and the San Juan Giants and White Sox face each other on Field 5 in San Juan.
This Saturday marks the final games of the regular season. The National League Mets (7-2) square off with the Braves (6-2) at 7 p.m. signifying the end of the regular slate. That game could also have a bearing on second place in the second half, no matter what the Braves do tonight vs. the Cardinals.
Marlins 200 034 – 9 10 0
Rockies 000 011 – 2 5 4
Langone, Jones (6) and Mullen; Davila Jr. and Casarez. WP-Langone. LP-Davila. 2B – Synegal, Mullen (M); Kutzer, Medina, Casarez (R). 3 hits – Synegal (M). 2 hits – Arevalo, Mullen (M). 3 RBI – Mullen (M).
