Locals lose, win in tourney

GLENDALE — A game into the Babe Ruth Baseball 16- to 18-year-old World Series, the San Gabriel Valley baseball team put itself in a hole.

San Gabriel Valley, featuring six locals, began the 38th annual double-elimination tournament at the Babe Ruth National Complex at Don Edwards Park in Newark, Ohio with a 2-1 loss to Youngstown, Ohio on Saturday.

A day later, San Gabriel Valley — which includes Dustin Emmons, George Adrian, Micah Dunham, Kam Krise, Bryan Longpre and Zack Torres of Crescenta Valley High — rebounded with a 10-0 six-inning victory against Greater Fairfield, Ohio, the host team.

Now, San Gabriel Valley — which is piloted by Crescenta Valley High Coach Phil Torres — finds itself in the second-chance bracket, where it will play Mobile, Ala. or Rhode Island at 5:30 p.m. PDT today. It needs to win today, Tuesday and Wednesday to play in the championship on Thursday.

"[On Saturday], we played like a team that hasn't played in 14 days," Phil Torres said.

San Gabriel Valley — which captured the Pacific Southwestern Regional in Alameda on July 30 — might have had an easier road to the title game if it produced against Youngstown, the Ohio State champion.

San Gabriel Valley — which won the World Series in 2004, when it featured eight locals — scored once in the first inning, but it couldn't get on the board again. Youngstown scored once in the first and added a run in the second, and that's all it needed to advance.

"We play good defense and we have good arms," Phil Torres said. "We just need to manufacture some runs."

It did against Greater Fairfield.

Emmons' three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Dunham and Zack Torres and provided the final score.

Krise started on the mound and gave up one hit and struck out seven.

Pasadena Poly's Rob Rasmussen will get the start on the mound today for San Gabriel Valley.

"We put ourselves behind the eight ball early, but we told the kids not to be afraid," Phil Torres said. "We want to play seven straight days [to get the championship game]."