Mexico’s Valenzuela tames PT in opener
Los Mochis, Mexico’s, Jose Roman scores a third-inning run Friday as Peters Township catcher Nick Winslow is unable to apply the tag in time.
Peters Township’s Shane Bartczak singles in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday against Los Mochis, Mexico.
Peters Township’s Jake Orsi pitches in the top of the seventh inning Friday against Los Mochis, Mexico.
Before the start of the 2016 Pony League World Series, Peters Township manager Chris Peters said he believed his team’s serendipitous path to the tournament would allow his players to be loose.
How can pressure exist when you’re not supposed to be there in the first place?
When Peters Township, the Tuesday addition to the 10-team field after Santo Domingo was forced to drop out because of visa problems, opened play against Mexican Zone champion Sinaloa Friday evening at Lew Hays Pony Field, no one in red, white, and blue uniforms appeared overwhelmed by the moment.
Neither team managed a run until the third inning.
“It didn’t feel like guys were tight,” Peters said. “It didn’t feel like guys were scared at all.”
Despite its composure, Peters Township couldn’t overcome solid pitching by Vincente Valenzuela and its own untimely errors in the field that produced a 4-1 win for Mexico.
Both starting pitchers, Jake Orsi for Peters and Valenzuela for Mexico, limited the offenses for seven innings. Valenzuela held Peters Township in check throughout the game, allowing one earned run and just three hits while striking out nine and walking six.
Speaking through a translator, Valenzuela credited his catcher and their frequent communication with helping him neutralize the Peters Township hitters time and again.
Until the sixth inning, no Peters runner advanced past first base. And shortstop John Salvitti’s drive to left field in the first inning was their sole hit to that point.
“He was strong, and it was hard to adjust,” Peters said of Valenzuela. “He had a lot of velocity and a lot of life to his pitches.”
Orsi wasn’t quite as complete in his work, though he gave up just five hits. Mexico broke the deadlock in the top of the third, taking a 2-0 lead, on a pair of unearned runs caused by back to back Peters Township errors.
That advantage held for two more innings until Jair Felix relocated a Orsi pitch onto the hill beyond the right field fence for a two-run home run.
Though they were suddenly down, Peters Township didn’t fall apart. Players had been in difficult situations together during the world series qualification process.
“We had times where we were at our lowest points, but we always fought back,” center fielder Daniel Boehme said on Thursday. “And we made it here.
Chris Peters, a major league pitcher for six seasons, said Valenzuela changed the location of his pitches, mostly fastballs, often and with accuracy, making it difficult for hitters to predict.
“Tough for us to get on top of,” he said.
Briefly, Peters Township did just that, though. The top of its batting order produced back-to-back hits to start the sixth inning. A fielder’s choice with one out sent Shane Bartczak to third and into scoring position. Two straight walks by Valenzuela gave Peters Township its first and only run.
Chris Peters noted that, while his players didn’t hit Valenzuela all that well, they often worked him late into counts via foul balls.
“I think he wore down at the end. I think he did get tired,” Peters said. “We did have some opportunities.”