Madera American advances with rout

The Madera American Little League 11-12-year-old All-Star team used an eight-run second inning for a 14-1 victory over Selma in the District 10 tournament semifinal.

Madera American scored a run in the first, eight in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth for the victory that sent them to the District 10 championship game.

Selma pushed over a meaningless run in the bottom of the fourth.

Murf Gray led the Madera American offense with a single and double with four runs scored and two RBIs. Isaiah Monge drove in five runs and with home runs. Shohn Varela hit a single and a double and drove in two runs.

David Ramirez tossed the first two innings and struck out six. Gray came in relief and allowed an unearned run in the fourth.

With one out in the first, Gray drew a walk, advanced to second and third on passed balls and scored on Benji Molina’s groundout.

Madera American started its eight-run rally with two outs in the second. Jojo Cosio started the rally with a walk. He went to second on a Brian Monges single. Ramirez singled home Cosio for a 2-0 lead.

Gray doubled in Ramirez and Monges. Gray scored on a wild pitch. After Molina drew a walk, Monge hit a two-run home run to center. Kaelei Kajitani kept the rally going with a single. Bryan Malagon drew a walk. Jacob Jaime reached on an error to score Kajitani. Varela singled to drive in Malagon. Monges singled to load the bases, but a popout ended the eight-run inning, leading 9-0.

Gray started another scoring rally in the third by getting hit by a pitch. He would later come in to score on Monge’s second home run of the game for an 11-0 lead. After Sajian Salas was hit by a pitch, he came in to score on Varela’s double to increase the lead to 12.

Madera American pushed over a pair of runs in the fourth. With one out, Gray and Molina singled. Monge grounded out to drive in Gray and Salas hit a ground rule double to score Molina for a 14-0 lead.

A single, passed ball and error allowed Selma to push over a run in the fourth before Gray closed the inning with a groundout.