In a City Championship doubleheader last weekend, the Angels and
the Reds both won titles in their respective divisions at
Britton.
In a City Championship doubleheader last weekend, the Angels and the Reds both won titles in their respective divisions at Britton.
The American League champion Angels downed the National League champion Cubs 9-2 to claim the Bronco division city championship, while the National League champion Reds outlasted the American League champion Red Sox 8-6 to take the Pinto division city championship.
In the Bronco finale, the Angels’ Nick Ramirez tossed five innings of two-hit ball, allowing a single run and striking out seven to pick up the victory. Ramirez also went 4-for-4 at the plate, while Angels catcher Richie Martinez added a pair of hits.
The Angels took a 2-1 lead in the top of the first, then scored four in the third and added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
The Cubs scored once in the first and once in the seventh. J.J. Lam had two of the Cubs’ three hits in the game.
In the Mustang finale, the red hot Reds got started early against the previously undefeated Red Sox. In the first, the Reds got a one-out single from Alex Hagiperos, who then stole second and third. Tommy Naranjo hit a hard infield grounder and Hagiperos slid under the tag at home for the first run of the game. Andy Pham then hit a two-out single scoring Naranjo. Jacob Sanchez reached on an error and Jordon Lozada loaded the bases with a full-count walk. Tyler Pederson put down a perfect suicide squeez bunt to score Pham who slid home for the score. John Forestieri hit a two-run single to cap the inning’s scoring.
The Red Sox came barreling back when leadoff hitter Brent Newton reached on an error and slugger Domonic Bajarano slammed an RBI single. Darryn Diaz added a two-out single and scored on a passed ball.
The Reds came back in the third when Hagiperos hit a hard grounder and beat out the throw to first. Hagiperos reached third on a wild pitch and Tommy Naranjo drew a walk. Ryan Mason hit a two-run single and later scored on a balk.
The Red Sox answered back when Domonic Bejarano got a base hit and Nathaniel Batad drew a walk. Bejarano scored on a balk and Batad scored on an RBI single by Carey Middlekauff. The inning ended on a sharp grounder to shortstop Dannay Saparito who threw home to catcher Alex Hagiperos, who blocked the plate and tagged out the runner, then threw to first for the double play.
Red Sox closer Brent Newton came in to face the top of the Reds lineup and Hagiperos led off with a deep single to right field. Hagiperos stole second and scored on an overthrow. But Newton closed out the inning by striking out the side.
The Red Sox scored in the fifth on a towering home run to deep center by Brent Newton. But Reds reliever Andy Pham closed out the inning for the win.
