Saro Sarkisian
NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- When three homers are hit by a baseball team, it
usually spells disaster for its opponent.
But the Tujunga Major Baseball team had to dig itself out of a
nine-run hole before being defeated, 9-5, by Vaquero in a Little League
District 16 winners-bracket semifinal All-Star game Wednesday at Babe
Herman Field.
Vaquero, made up of 11- and 12-year-olds, will play at 7:30 p.m.
Monday at Montrose Park against the winner of Friday's Jewel
City-Crescenta Valley game in the winner's-bracket finals.
"We banged the ball early today," Vaquero Coach Juan Zuazola said. "If
we jump in front of anybody, our defense will keep us in it."
Johnathan Solis of Vaquero (2-0) nailed a two-run scoring double to
center field and later scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first
inning.
In the top of the third inning, Tujunga had a golden opportunity to
score, with bases loaded and one out. Peter Sellers attempted to score
from third base on a wild pitch, but he was called out at home, as Nico
Moreno recovered the ball and threw it to pitcher Denny Jaco for the out.
Jaco struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Vaquero exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third, including a
two-run scoring double to left field by Danny Abrahamian.
Tujunga's Mike Stanton blasted a solo home run over the left-field
fence in the top of the fourth inning.
"I was disappointed, because it should of been neck and neck and we
could have pulled off a win," Stanton said.
Tujunga's Max Armand and Tyler Shannon blasted back-to-back homers in
the top of the fifth inning.
"My catcher called a wrong sign, but I didn't care," said Jaco, who
pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts. "Because I didn't feel it
slipping away and I knew we had the game."
Jeff Obar scored on a wild pitch by Jaco in the top of the sixth
inning for Tujunga's (0-1) last run.
Both teams had six hits, but Tujunga's three errors and wild pitches
at crucial points in the game proved costly.
Mychael Barajas had two of Vaquero's six hits.
BOX SCORE
Tujunga*0*0*0*1*3*1*--*5*6*3
Vaquero*3*0*6*0*0*x*--*9*6*3
Tujunga*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Obar*3*9*8*5*2*2
Montes*0.2*0*0*1*2*1
Parkinson*1.1*0*0*0*0*1
Total*5*9*8*6*4*4
Vaquero*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Jaco*5*5*5*6*4*11
WP-Jaco (1-0).
LP-Obar (n/a).
2B: V-Jaco, Abrahamian, Solis.
HR: T-Stanton, Armand, Shannon.
SB: T-Loaney.
