Mazatlan throws Washington curve
Mazatlan’s Hector Enciso slides safely into home Sunday ahead of the tag of Washington catcher A.D. Nelson during a Pony League World Series game at Lew Hays Field.
Washington’s Jordan Palfreyman, center, watches his team face Mazatlan Sunday during a Pony League World Series game at Lew Hays Field.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Carson Nutter of Washington takes a throw to first base attempting to pick off Mazatlan’s Joes Tirado during the Pony League World Series at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Sunday.
It was Jose Luis Tirado’s pitch in the first inning. It was his pitch in the last inning. It was his pitch to start an at-bat and it was his pitch on a 3-2 count.
If Washington was going to beat Mazatlan, Mexico, and remain alive in the Pony League World Series, then the host team had to find a way to hit Tirado’s curveball.
It never did.
Tirado threw a three-hitter and Mazatlan broke open a close game with a six-run fourth inning Sunday en route to a 12-2 five-inning victory over Washington in an elimination game at Lew Hays Pony Field.
Javier Montada drove in three runs and Rodrigo Garate hit a two-run homer, providing more than enough offensive support for Tirado, who struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
“He was working the outside corner and then coming back with the curveball for the strikeout,” said Washington manager Bill Nelson. “He had a nice curveball.”
Washington managed only three singles against Tirado and his breaking ball. Clarence Pomykala, who drove in both Washington runs, had an RBI single that scored A.D. Nelson from second base in the top of the first inning. Jordan Palfreyman hit a bloop single just inside the right-field line to open the third inning and A.D. Nelson singled later in the inning. All three Washington hits were to right field as batters tried to go the opposite way with the curveball from the right-handed Tirado.
“He saw the curveball was working and made the decision to stay with it,” Mazatlan manager Javier Montano said.
Three hits was not enough offense for Washington to remain alive in the double-elimination tournament, though the host team made it interesting, trailing only 4-2 until Mazatlan’s big fourth inning.
Washington gave up four unearned runs in the bottom of the first, though Mazatlan had only one hit in the inning against Washington starter Logan Hummell. Two walks around an error loaded the bases with one out in the first, and Bill Nelson gambled by bringing his infield in though he had a lead. Nelson knew that runs would be hard to come by against Tirado.
Shortstop Zemar Loper made a diving catch on a grounder hit by Miguel Ojeda, but the throw to home plate was late as Hector Enciso scored to make it 1-1. Montado followed with a two-run double to right centerfield, and a wild pitch allowed Mexico to take a 4-1 lead.
Washington closed to within 4-2 in the third when Palfreyman singled, Carson Nutter was hit by a pitch and Pomykala singled.
Mazatlan, however, broke the game open in the fourth, sending 11 batters to the plate. Garate hit the two-run homer to left field to make it 6-2. Mario Sarabia had a two-run single later in the inning.
“Hummell ran out of gas in that fourth inning,” Bill Nelson said. “That what killed us (Saturday). We gave up another six-run inning.”
Washington lost its opener to Vienna, Austria, 12-9, as errors were a big factor. Nelson said his team was over those first-game jitters.
“What I liked is we showed heart,” he said. “We never gave up. We played hard and were in the game. They hit the home run and then things went downhill for us from there.”
Mazatlan, which had 10 hits, scored twice in the fifth inning to end the game. Montada (3-for-3) had an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch.
Mazatlan, which lost its opener to Hagerstown, Md., 7-6, will play Vienna in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. today.
“Things went our way in this game. We had a good day,” Montada, said. “Things didn’t go our way Saturday. That’s how baseball is.”
The breaks haven’t gone Washington’s way in the world series for quite some time. The 1955 team remains Washington’s only championship team.
Bill Nelson mentioned that his team was chosen from a pool of only 20 14-year-olds in the Washington Pony League. That talented pool could be larger next year because there have been discussions about including players from Canon-Mac. The Washington and Canon-Mac leagues played an interleague schedule this season but fielded separate all-star teams.
“We’re a small organization. (Mazatlan) is an all-star team with kids who probably have been playing together year-round, seven days a week. Chinese Taipei is probably that way, too. My kids were together for two days before we played our first tournament game. They’ve only been together five weeks.”