hits in 21 innings pitched.
Madera took a 1-0 lead in
the first as leadoff hitter Isaac
Garcia singled, stole second
and advanced to third on a Tulare
error. Roberts then lofted
a deep sacrifice fly to score
Garcia.
Then in the fourth, Madera
had a two-out rally of sorts to
score an insurance run without
collecting a hit.Adriano Coronado
worked a walk and was
balked to second. He then
went to third on a wild pitch
and raced home to score on
another wild pitch.
In the nightcap, Gutierrez
elected to send out another
lefty, Sal Martinez, who already
had a win in the tournament.
It took three pitchers tossing
a combined 15 innings in order
to pull out the 2-1 win.
Martinez threw seven innings
and allowed just four
hits with five strikeouts, but
he left with the score tied, 1-1,
and the game heading into extra
innings.
Tulare struck first with an
unearned run in the top of the
third, courtesy of two Madera
errors.
Madera answered in the bottom
half of the inning as Isaac
Granado and Martinez had
back-to-back singles before a
fielder’s choice by Isaac Garcia
put runners at the corners.
Joseph Mendrin, who went 4-
for-6, then drove in Granado
to tie the score, 1-1.
“Joseph is a gamer, that’s all
I can say,” Gutierrez said. “He
anchors our defense, but today
when we needed some offense
the most, he comes through
with it all on the line.”
Granado, who suffered the
lone Madera, then toed the
hill.
And like Martinez and
Roberts, he was masterful
throwing seven innings, allowing
just two hits with four
strikeouts.
Tulare nearly scored in the
top of the 12th as Granado
gave up a two-out walk. The
Tulare baserunner stole second
as the throw to the bag by
catcher Donovan Bertoncini
sailed into center field. Then
the relay throw to third sailed
over the headed ofWillie Cappelutti
before the third baseman
tracked down the ball and
threw a strike to Bertoncini,
who tagged the runner out at
home.
“We almost let the game get
away with those errors,”
Gutierrez said. “But then
Willie makes a phenomenal
play and saves the day.”
Madera squandered a scoring
opportunity in the bottom
of the 13th, as Garcia drew a
walk and Mendrin singled
with no outs, and both were
stranded.
At the top of the 15th,
Granado gave way to
Bertoncini, the winner in
Monday’s game, but not before
Bertoncini had to lobby
Gutierrez for the right to
throw.
“The plan was to sendMendrin
in to pitch, especially
since Donovan had just caught
14 innings,” Gutierrez said.
“But when Donovan saw
Mendrin warming up, he
begged me to give him the
ball, and when I saw how badly
he wanted it and how confident
he was, that’s just what
I did.”
Bertoncini repaid his
coach’s faith by putting Tulare
down in order.
Garcia started things off
with a one-out single in the
bottom of the 15th and went
to second on a wild pitch.
Mendrin then drew a walk.
Both runners advanced on another
wild pitch. Then
Roberts strode to the plate
and, on a 2-2, count drilled a
towering fly ball to right field
to drive in the winning run.
“Isaac’s speed and baserunning
skills were huge for us in
this tournament,” Gutierrez
said. “He is wonderful to have
on our side.”
Robert was selected the
tournament’s Most Valuable
Player, and Garcia, Mendrin
and Bertoncini were selected
to the state All-Tournament
team.
Madera advances to the
Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest
Regional Championships in
Eureka, with their first game
scheduled for 12:30 p.m.Aug.
6 against Somerton Yaqui
from Arizona.
