The second-seeded Dynamites, who held off a late surge by fifth-seeded Tommy’s, will next compete in another elimination game against All Season or Sanfilippo at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Montrose Park. Top-seeded All Season and third-seeded Sanfilippo met later Friday at Montrose Park.
Tommy’s Coach Sean Rodriguez, whose team had to forfeit a tournament game against All Season on Wednesday at Glorietta Park because two of its players had to participate in an orchestra recital at their school, said his team played competitively throughout the tournament despite some tough breaks with player personnel.
“Sometimes the breaks go your way, and sometimes they don’t,” Rodriguez said. “We had a good season, and you can’t come any closer than this.”
Tommy’s never led throughout the entire 10- to 12-year-old division game.
The Dynamites built a 4-0 lead before Tommy’s scored three runs in the top of the fourth to slice the deficit to 4-3.
The Dynamites grabbed a 7-3 lead, but Tommy’s still didn’t quit. Tommy’s scored three runs in the fifth, but could not get the equalizer with two on and one out in the sixth.
“Tujunga played a good game,” Rodriguez said. “I wish we could have gotten a couple of more key hits [in the sixth].
“We were playing for the big inning, but we just couldn’t get any runs across there.”
Dynamites Coach Scott Allen said his team was fortunate to get some insurance runs before fending off Tommy’s.
“I’m glad we got those three runs [in the fourth],” Allen said. “My heart beat a little faster in the last inning when they got two on.”
The Dynamites grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run single by Nicole Lindeman that tipped off the shortstop’s glove. They extended the lead to 4-0 on a two-run single by Faith Baer.
Tommy’s came back with three consecutive runs in the fourth, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Alia Zavala and Hayley Sheddon.
Tommy’s got to within 7-6 in the fifth on a two-run error and a run-scoring single from Bronte Ku. Ku finished with a team-best three hits and scored one run.
Meghan Spencer, Cailen Rodriguez, Torrey Johnson and Zavala each had one hit for Tommy’s.
The tournament’s championship will be played at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Glendale Sports Complex.
An if-necessary championship contest would be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday at a site to be determined.
