Foster and Parker wins epic City Championship game

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera National Little League’s Foster and Parker Insurance holds up the Cecil Cox Trophy and show off their rings after winning the Madera City Championship over Morgan’s Garage on Saturday.

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The Madera Majors City Championship game was a classic title game that went into extra innings. Madera National champion, Foster and Parker scored a run in the top of the seventh and held in the bottom of the inning for a 4-3 victory over Madera American champions, Morgan’s Garage for the title.

Foster and Parker scored twice in the first, but Morgan’s Garage scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Foster and Parker added a run in the fourth to send the game into extra innings before a run in the seventh broke the tie.

“The game was really stressful, but the kids were having fun,” Foster and Parker manager, Jesse Zapata, said. “Both teams are great. It could have gone either way.”

Both starting pitchers were solid on the mound, but didn’t play a factor in the final decision.

Morgan’s Eli Vela pitched into the seventh inning. He allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out 10 and walked one. Nathan Gonzalez suffered the loss in relief, allowing an unearned run with two strikeouts.

Foster and Parker split its pitchers. Justin Ornelas tossed the first 3 1/3 innings. He allowed one hit and two unearned runs. He struck out eight, but walked five. Jesse Zapata picked up the win in relief, throwing the final 3 2/3 innings. He allowed an unearned run on one hit with nine strikeouts and three walks.

“Justin threw a great game,” Manager Zapata said. “I thought he threw lights out. My son locked it down. I was a little nervous putting him in that situation.”

Ornelas and Zapata limited Morgan’s to three hits. The big hit was a triple by Eli Vela, who later scored the game-tying run in the fifth.

Ornelas led the offense with a pair of hits and two runs scored, including the game-winner. Nathan Ochoa added two hits for the seven-hit attack.

Foster and Parker got on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Zapata led off with an infield single. He advanced to third on a throwing error. After a strikeout, Monte Moore singled to left to drive in Zapata.

After a stolen base, Moore scored from second when Ornelas hit a gapper to right-center. However, Ornelas was tagged out trying for a double for the second out of the inning.

Ornelas had to manage traffic on the bases in the first three innings. Morgan’s left a runner on in the first, the bases loaded, after three walks, in the second. Morgan’s left 11 runners on base compared to five by Foster and Parker.

In the third, Morgan’s finally pushed across a run, Klassen was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Klassen advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. He later scored on an error trying to pick him off of third.

Foster and Parker answered the run with one of its own in the fourth. With one out, Ornelas reached on an infield single. He went to second on a passed ball, and to third on an error. A wild throw from the outfield allowed Ornelas to score for a 3-1 lead.

Morgan’s cut the lead by a run in the fourth. With one out, Luke Rosel singled up the middle. He went to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Michael De La Cruz reached on a dropped third strike, and stole second. Maximus Moraga drew a walk to load the bases.

After a change in pitchers, Zavala struck out the next batter, but a passed ball allowed a run to score. Zavala struck out the batter to end the inning.

With one out in the fifth, Morgan’s got its crowd behind them by tying the score. Vela, the MVP of the M.A.L.L., ripped an 0-2 hung curveball to left-centerfield for a triple. He came in to score on a passed ball.

After Foster and Parker went down in order in the sixth, Morgan’s tried to end it in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Rosel reached on a bunt single. A passed ball put Rosel at second. De La Cruz drew a walk to put two on.

Moraga grounded out to first, and the runners moved up 60 feet. Noah Eller drew a walk to load the bases, but Zapata got a strikeout to end the inning still tied.

Ornelas was intentionally walked with one out in the seventh. Adrian Estrada hit the first pitch from Gonzalez into right field for a double. The Morgan’s right fielder bobbled the ball, and that gave Ornelas time to race around the bases to score the go-ahead run.

“I haven’t seen a kid run that fast and strong in a long time,” Zapata said. “When I saw them walk him, I knew we got it. We played lights out, and it could have gone the other way.”

After Estrada advanced to third on the error, Parker Davidson kept the rally going with a walk.

After hitting first, Davidson took second to try to get a throw, but went in safely to put two on.

Gonzalez settled down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Zapata struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh, and got a lazy pop up to second for the second out. He faced Vela a second time. He threw a 1-2 inside low fastball that Vela swung over the top for the strikeout and end the game for the City Championship.

Majors City Championship

(Seven innings) R H E

Foster and Parker (MNLL) 4 7 1

Morgan’s Garage (MALL) 3 3 5

WP: Jesse Zapata 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 9 K, 3 BB. LP: Nathan Gonzalez 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 2 BB. Pitching: FP- Justin Ornelas 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 8 K. MG- Eli Vela 6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K. Hitting: FP- Jesse Zapata 1-3, run; Monte Moore 1-3, run, RBI; Justin Ornelas 2-2, 2 runs; Adrian Estrada 1-3, 2B; Nathaniel Ochoa 2-3. MG- Eli Vela 1-4, run, 3B; Luke Rosel 2-2, run; Nehemiah Klassen run.