August 21, 2009
N. California holds on for 7-6 win over Aruba
A 7-run third inning is the difference
By Adam Clark
Assistant Information Director
Giving up 12 hits is never a good sign if you record only five. That is, of course, if you weren’t the U.S. West representative from Fremont, Calif., Friday.
Despite giving up 12 hits to the Latin American team from San Nicolas, Aruba, Northern California took advantage of three errors in the third inning and scored all seven of its runs in that frame to hold on for a 7-6 win in the first semifinal at Mansfield Stadium.
“Things fell our way today,” said California manager Perry Romero. “Aruba is just a great hitting team. When they made outs, they made shots to left field and shots to centerfield. It was pitching, defense and pure hustle that won that game.”
Northern California (5-0) advances to tomorrow’s championship game against the U.S. Southwest representative from Texas East, while Aruba finishes the tournament with a 3-2 record.
After a scoreless first inning, Aruba struck first with a run in the second. Jiandido Tromp hit a one-out single, stole second base and then scored on a bunt by Signarf Loopstok.
Aruba tacked on a run in the top of the third as well before Northern California sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom half. They capitalized on three Aruba errors in the inning and scored seven runs to take a 7-2 lead.
Aruba scored two in the fifth, but righthander Jack Veronin battled to get through five innings before giving way to lefty Matt Knight.
“I felt good,” said Veronin of his performance. “I didn’t have to pitch two days in a row for once. My arm felt good. That team made me work for outs.”
Veronin picked up the victory for Northern California, scattering nine hits and four runs, only three of which were earned.
“I wanted to pitch this game,” Veronin added. “I told coach we got to get there first. I always want to pitch the big game, but we had to get to the big game first. I went out and gave my team a chance to win.”
In the seventh inning, Aruba scored two runs and put the tying run on base before Knight struck out Darwin Escobar after a 12-pitch at bat.
“I wasn’t going to get him a hit,” said Knight, who notched the save. “I was either going to strike him out of walk him. I didn’t want to put the winning run on first.”
Casey Jennings fueled the Northern California offense with two hits and a run batted in.
“I think we need to play exactly how we e been playing for the last couple of months,” said Jennings of tomorrow’s championship game. “Have fun and play to win.”
Game time is set for 3 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPNU.
Texas rides bat, arm of Resnick over Philippines, 6-1
U.S. Southwest to make first championship appearance
By Adam Clark
Assistant Information Director
Michael Resnick has seen only one other pitcher who threw a knuckleball this season. On Friday afternoon, he saw his second and teams may never throw him one again.
After the first three batters in front of him walked to load the bases in the first inning, Resnick launched a knuckleball over the fence for a grand slam to help propel the U.S. Southwest representative from Houston, Texas, to a 6-1 victory over Asia-Pacific champ Makati City, Philippines.
“Nothing makes me happier than when he comes up with the bases loaded because I know someone is going to have to throw to him,” said Texas manager Trey Cornelius of his right-handed slugger.
With the win, Texas (4-1) advances to tomorrow’s championship game against Northern California while the Philippines wraps up a successful stint at the World Series with a 3-2 record, the best World Series record of any Asia-Pacific team since the World Series moved to Bangor in 2002. No other Asia-Pacific team had reached the semifinals before today. Today’s win for Texas East was the first semifinal win for a U.S. Southwest representative in a Bangor World Series. The region had been 0-2 entering today’s game.
In the bottom of the first inning, starter Charles Cantangui walked the first three Texas hitters to load the bases before giving way to Niklas Sarda. Sarda was brought in to pitch to Resnick, who had already tied the tournament record for home runs in a Bangor World Series with three.
Resnick greeted Sarda by taking his knuckleball over the fence for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead.
“The ball actually comes real well off those trees [beyond the center field fence] with that green tree with the white ball,” said Resnick of hitting at Mansfield Stadium. “I’ve just been looking for a pitch that I could hit and I’ve been getting them.”
The early lead also gave Resnick breathing room on the mound, room he would not need.
“I was pretty comfortable, knowing I had a four-run lead and all I had to do was throw strikes so we could get outs, let our defense work then everything else will take care of itself,” he said.
Resnick breezed through seven innings, allowing only one run and five hits, while striking out three. He was efficient, throwing only 79 pitches in the outing.
In the third inning, Resnick was intentionally walked, but Matt Luna provided a two-run single to add to the lead.