Long ball leads MNLL to victory
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera National’s Dylan Whiteman (10) congratulates Tyler Zamora after Zamora hit a solo home run to open the scoring of a 9-4 victory over Selma on Saturday.
SELMA — The Madera National 11-12-year-old All-Star baseball team used three home runs, including a grand slam from Dylan Whiteman to pick up a win in the District 10 All-Star Tournament.
Madera National continued in the tournament against Madera American on Monday. The winner plays today in the semifinals while the loser played Tuesday.
Madera National jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and tacked on seven more runs in the fifth inning for a 9-4 victory Saturday over Selma.
Timmy Nino picked up the win with four innings pitched. He struck out seven and allowed three hits and three runs, two unearned.
Seven different Madera National batters had hits and seven more scored runs, including two runs each from Tyler Zamora and Sebastian Millan. Zamora and Andrew Rodriguez each had two hits in the game.
With two outs in the top of the first inning, Zamora got the scoring started with a home run over the centerfield fence. Two pitches later Sebastian Millan hit a home run over the right-centerfield fence for an early lead.
Selma came back in the bottom of the first by reaching on an error and scoring on a wild pitch. Nino settled down and retired the next five batters by strikeouts before leaving in the fifth.
Madera National left the bases loaded in the second and only had one baserunner in the third and fourth innings.
However, Madera National broke the game open in the fifth inning. Gilbert Moisa led off the inning with a single to left. However, he was forced out on a bunt by Cody Diebert.
Zamora reached on a fielder’s choice and Millan was intentionally walked to load the bases.
After falling behind 0-2, Whiteman worked the count full and sent a ball over the right field fence for a grand slam and gave Madera National a 6-1 lead.
Nino kept the rally going by reaching on an error. Dakota Noe walked and Rodriguez reached on a bunt single to load the bases.
No. 9 batter Xavier Cantu lined a double down the right field lineto drive in Nino and Noe. Moisa grounded out to drive in Rodriguez for the seventh run of the inning and a 9-1 lead.
Selma cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth before Zamora closed the game with three strikeouts in the sixth.
