Babe Ruth squad stays alive

GLENDALE — They have chosen not to use the excuse of being fatigued.

It hasn't been easy for the members of the San Gabriel Valley 16- to 18-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team, who have been forced to stave off elimination since Saturday in the World Series. Indeed, they've done a commendable job fighting their way back.

Jordan Larson finished with a team-high three hits and Dustin Emmons of Crescenta Valley High scored three runs Wednesday to propel San Gabriel Valley to a 12-2 victory against Harrison, N.Y. in a second-chance bracket game at the Babe Ruth National Complex at Don Edwards Park in Newark, Ohio. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning because of the tournament-imposed 10-run mercy rule.

San Gabriel Valley, which captured the Pacific Southwest Region championship, will meet Hammond, Ind., in another elimination game at 4 p.m. PDT today at the same venue.

"We are a little fatigued right now from playing everyday, but to be a big leaguer, you have to do this everyday," said San Gabriel Valley Coach Phil Torres, who's also the Crescent Valley High baseball coach. "You have to just keep playing.

"We had a huge first inning."

San Gabriel Valley, which features six local athletes, scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning. David Carrillo had a two-run double to make it 2-0 and Jesus Campos collected a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-0.

Willie Sandez notched two hits and scored twice for San Gabriel Valley, which scored four runs in the fourth and one each in the fifth and sixth.

Teammate Bryan Longpre, a 2005 Crescenta Valley graduate, also scored a run.

San Gabriel Valley starting pitcher Nick Kennedy picked up the victory against a Harrison squad that won the Middle Atlantic Region crown. He struck out one and allowed two runs in four innings before giving way to relievers Cesar Martinez and Longpre.

Micah Dunham and George Adrian, both of them Crescenta Valley players, did well defensively at third base and catcher, respectively, for San Gabriel Valley, which has picked off four runners in its last two contests.

San Gabriel Valley won its fourth consecutive game since it suffered a 2-1 opening loss to Youngstown, Ohio, on Saturday.