EUREKA, Calif.—While
pitching depth is essential for
any team wanting to lay
claim to a tournament title,
especially in one as talentladen
as the Babe Ruth Pacific
Southwest Regionals, hitting
is a close second.
After winning its opening
game 7-3 Thursday behind
ace Scott Roberts, the
Madera Babe Ruth 13-yearold
All-Stars got an ace-like
performance from Donovan
Bertoncini Friday, but couldn’t
manage to get their bats
going in dropping a 3-2 decision
to Alameda.
The loss dropsMadera into
the consolation bracket where
they will face host Eureka
tonight at 6:30 for the opportunity
to advance or go home.
Bertoncini tossed a complete-
game six-hitter while
recording six strikeouts and
allowing only two walks but
was the hard-luck loser in a
game where Madera mustered
only three hits to support
him.
Madera struck first in the
bottom of the first as Isaac
Garcia reached on an error,
stole second and advanced to
third on a wild pitch before
scoring on a groundout by
Roberts.
Apitcher’s duel ensued for
the next four innings with
neither team being able to
score. But in the top of the
sixth, Eureka parlayed a pair
of singles with a Madera error
to tie the game 1-1 before
a relay from shortstop Joseph
Mendrin to home cut down
the second runner to preserve
the tie.
Roberts reached base on an
error to lead off the bottom of
the sixth and Bertoncini followed
with a single. Both runners
advanced to second and
third on a wild pitch. Adriano
Coronado then delivered an
RBI single to give Madera a
2-1 lead before stranding a
pair of runners.
Back-to-back singles by Eureka
to lead off the top of the
seventh was followed by a
bouncer back to the mound
where the throw home was
just late to tie the game 2-2.
Then an RBI single by Eureka
plated the final run.
Madera still had a shot as
Garcia drilled a one-out double
and went to third on a wild
pitch in the bottom of the seventh,
but Madera was unable
to get him home in the 3-2
loss.
Madera will face Northern
California champion and host
Eureka tonight at 6:30 p.m.
• • •
KRISTINA BORGES CONTRIBUTED TO
THIS AND ALL BABE RUTH 13-YEAROLD
ALL-STARS’ STORIES.
