Perko's falls in Tournament of Champions title game
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Southpaw Isaiah Pinto was Perko’s Café’s best pitcher in Saturday’s loss to River Park. He didn’t allow a run over the final 1 1/3 innings in the Tournament of Champions title game.
FRESNO — Madera American Little League and Madera City Champions Perko’s Café ran into a River Park buzz saw in the District 10 Tournament of Champions title game.
River Park champions, Giants, took advantage of the lack of Perko’s pitching depth to score seven runs in the first and nine runs in the third for a 20-0 victory Saturday.
Benji Molina singled and drew a walk for Perko’s and was the only batter not to strike out against River Park.
Elijah Tang suffered the loss, allowing five runs over 2/3 innings. Isaiah Pinto proved to be the most reliable Perko’s pitcher. He didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Perko’s also didn’t play up to their usual standards. They committed eight errors, which led to nine unearned runs. They also had numerous mental errors, which allowed River Park to take extra bases.
River Park scored seven runs in the first, sending 11 batters to the plate, led by a double and two triples.
The Giants scored four runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run home run. River Park closed the game in the third with another two-run home run and a three-run home run for the victory. Perko’s 14, Reedley 2
After falling behind after the first inning, Perko’s scored the final 13 runs to advance to the District 10 TOC championship game.
Perko’s scored a run in the first after Adam Arias doubled and scored on a groundout by Robbie Reynoso.
However, Reedley scored two runs in the bottom of the inning after a double and a single, followed by an RBI groundout and an RBI double.
Arias settled down from there. He allowed just one hit over the final three innings to lead Perko’s in the TOC semifinals.
Perko’s tied the game with a run in the top of the second. David Moles led off with a double and came in to score on a sacrifice bunt by Raymond Urbano.
Perko’s blew the game open in the third inning, sending 13 players to the plate and scoring 10 runs. Arias started the rally with a triple. Reynoso drove him home with a bunt single.
After a groundout, Josh Alvarez reached on an error while Reynoso came in to score. Moles doubled home Reynoso. Pinto followed with a two-run home run.
Mikey Flowers kept the hitting barrage going with a double. Molina singled Flowers home. Arias singled and Reynoso drew a walk to load the bases.
Eli Martinez closed out the inning’s scoring with a grand slam for a 12-2 lead.
Perko’s added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Pinto reached on a passed ball and Flowers drew a walk. Pinto came around to score on another passed ball and Molina drove in Flowers for the 14-2 victory.
