Madera National wins District 10 title
Tyler Takeda/The madera Tribune
The Madera National Little League 10-12-year-old All-Stars celebrate after the final out was made to win the District 10 championship for the first time since 2011.
REEDLEY — The Madera National Little League 10-12-year-old All-Star team scored the final seven runs of the game to turn a one-run deficit into an 11-5 victory over Reedley Little League to capture the league’s first District 10 championship since 2011.
Blake Burton had the key two-run single to give Madera National the lead in the fifth. Madera National piled on from there Friday night.
Reedley pushed Madera National to the edge with a 5-2 victory Thursday in the double-elimination tournament giving Madera National its first loss.
Madera National got a first inning three-run home run from Joel Arellano and a solid pitching performance from Mark Huarte for the win.
“We strive to work hard the whole time, to never had a doubt in our mind and to believe we can succeed no matter what the circumstances are against us,” manager Rolando Arredondo said. “We just battled the whole time.”
Madera National will next battle in the Section 7 tournament this weekend in Porterville.
After allowing five runs in the first two innings, Madera National’s Huarte settled down and didn’t allow a run over the next two innings although Reedley put a runner at third with two outs in the third.
“I took a couple of deep breaths,” Huarte said. “I was less nervous in the next couple of innings and did my best. It’s amazing to get this win.”
“Mark was clutch the whole time,” Arredondo said. “The kid is an ace and a stud. He has five pitches and he’s 12-years-old. The kid is dominant.”
Brenton Bohm came in the fifth and sixth and allowed four baserunners, but none came around to score to secure Madera National’s first District 10 title in eight years.
“Bohm was throwing that good hook,” Arredondo said. “He was on fire. The whole team was on fire. Our defense was exceptional, our pitching was exceptional, our sticks were alive.”
Arellano hit a three-run home run in the first inning and hit a double to drive in three and score a pair of runs to lead the offense. Burton went two-for-two off the bench, including the clutch two-run single in the 13-hit attack.
“We showed up a whole different team today,” Arredondo said. “We were flat yesterday. Today, we came out ready to roll and that’s what we did. We rolled them.”
Madera National started the game on a more positive note than the night before when Reedley scored five runs before Madera National scored two in the sixth.
Josh McKeever, who led the offense with three hits, led off with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and Isaiah Sanchez drew a walk. A wild pitch to Arellano moved the runners up a base.
On a 3-2 pitch, Arellano saw a pitch down the middle and deposited it deep to right field to the roof of the apartments beyond the Camacho Park’s brick fencing.
“My back was kind of tight because I swung and missed at the first two pitches,” he said. “I stepped out and did some stretches. The next pitch was right down the middle and hit it. It was pretty big to get the early lead because they can hit and can catch up just like they did today.”
Reedley came back with a run in the bottom of the first with a two-out, nobody on rally. A single and a double over the head of the left fielder resulted in a run. Huarte allowed another single, but got out of the inning with a strikeout leading 3-1.
With one out in the top of the second, Huarte singled up the middle. He went to second on a McKeever sacrifice. After a Sanchez walk, Huarte scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 lead.
Reedley battled back in the bottom of the second with another two-out, nobody on rally and it started with a walk to the No. 9 batter. Reedley’s No. 9 batter reached base all three times.
The next batter singled up the middle. Starting pitcher Eli Garay doubled down the left field line to drive in a run.
With runners at second and third, a single up the middle drove in one run. Garay came in to score, but as he slid into the plate, he shoved catcher Trevor Teran. The plate umpire tossed Garay from the game for the contact. The ejection was a key element to the game. Garay, who hit a home run the previous night, was not a threat anymore and his substitute struck out twice and stranded four runners on base.
A walk and another single drove in the go-ahead run for Reedley.
Madera National couldn’t get anything going until the fifth inning.
Huarte had trouble getting the third out in all four innings. He got the first two outs of the first four innings with the first two batters. However, Reedley put at least two runners on base before Huarte could get out of the inning.
With one out in the fifth, Eli Sablan doubled to the centerfield fence to start a rally. Teran singled to center and advanced to second on a throw.
After a strikeout, Paul Stroemer worked a full-count walk to load the bases.
On a 2-1 pitch, Burton saw a pitch he could handle and singled up the middle to drive in Sablan and Teran with the tying and go-ahead runs.
“I tried not to get too nervous and stiff,” Burton said. “I wanted to relax. The first pitch came, it was a ball, but I swung at it. I took a step out and took a breath. The next pitch came and in my mind, I was thinking ‘yes, yes, yes’ and I hit it and it went up the middle. I felt like all the weight got lifted on my shoulders.”
Huarte kept the rally going with another single up the middle to drive in Stroemer for a 7-5 lead.
Bohm followed Huarte’s model and got the first two outs of the fifth inning, but Reedley threatened with a walk and a single before he struck out the next batter to get out of the inning.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Arellano doubled to right-center. He went to third on a wild pitch and Chavira drew a walk and stole second.
Teran singled home Arellano and Aiden Ramirez drew a walk to load the bases.
After a change in pitchers, Stroemer and Aiden Medina walked to force in Chavira and Teran. After a strikeout, McKeever singled up the middle to drive in Ramirez for an 11-5 lead.
Reedley got to Bohm in the bottom of the sixth with a double and single to open the inning. However, Bohm settled with a popout, strikeout and flyout to Stroemer in center to end the game.
Reedley 5, Madera National 2
Just three days after Madera National scored six runs in the fifth inning for a 10-6 win in the semifinals, Reedley scored a run in the third, three in the fourth and another in the sixth for a 5-2 victory to force a deciding game.
Reedley pushed a run across in the fifth on three singles for the first lead against starter Isaiah Sanchez.
Reedley added three more in the fourth with a single, bunt single groundout and two-run home run from Garay. Reedley got another insurance run in the sixth on a double and a pair of wild pitches.
Madera National tried to push through against Reedley starter Mason Cisneros. Arellano doubled and went to third on a wild pitch in the third, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Huarte drew a walk in the third, but was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch to end the inning.
Mason Roberts hit a one-out double in the fifth, but was also left stranded.
Madera National broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to get some momentum heading into Friday’s penultimate game.
Sanchez led off the inning with a single to right. Arellano doubled to the centerfield fence. After a strikeout, Aiden Medina singled up the middle to drive in Sanchez.
After another strikeout, Jaydian Chavira singled up the middle to drive in Arellano. However, a groundout ended the game and forced Friday’s championship game.
Reedley 5, Madera National 2
Just three days after Madera National scored six runs in the fifth inning for a 10-6 win in the semifinals, Reedley scored a run in the third, three in the fourth and another in the sixth for a 5-2 victory to force a deciding game.
Reedley pushed a run across in the fifth on three singles for the first lead against Madera National starter Isaiah Sanchez.
Reedley added three more in the fourth with a single, bunt single groundout and two-run home run from Garay. Reedley got another insurance run in the sixth on a double and a pair of wild pitches.
Madera National tried to push through against Reedley starter Mason Cisneros.
Arellano doubled and went to third on a wild pitch in the third, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Huarte drew a walk in the third, but was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch to end the inning. Mason Roberts hit a one-out double in the fifth, but was also left stranded.
Madera National broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to get some momentum heading into Friday’s penultimate game.
Sanchez led off the inning with a single to right.
Arellano doubled to the centerfield fence. After a strikeout, Aiden Medina singled up the middle to drive in Sanchez.
After another strikeout, Jaydian Chavira singled up the middle to drive in Arellano. However, a groundout ended the game and forced Friday’s championship game.
Madera National will next play in the Section 7 championships, which pits them against teams from Visalia and Tulare, in Porterville over the weekend.
