New Mexico state-champion Shorthorn Little League stays in play after Saturday morning’s 15- 5 win eliminated Colorado in the Southwest Junior Baseball Regional played at St. Michael’s

The afternoon game was a three and a-hour marathon that ended with host Santa Fe ousting Louisiana, 14-12, to face the state champions Sunday in the loser’s bracket, after unbeaten Texas East-Texas West meet

 

By Arnie Leshin / August 6, 2017

 

When all was said and done in what was no doubt the best game of the Regional at the St. Michael’s ballpark, the Bogalusa LL team was disappointed with the seven-inning 14-12 setback, but at least had no reason to hang its heads after coming from six runs down to make for the kind of contest that went down to the final out.

While the Santa Fe Monsters remained in play in the double-elimination and will take on the New Mexico state champions from Carlsbad’s Shorthorn LL at the scheduled noon hour Sunday, Louisiana dropped its two games, but after an opening 12-0 loss to Texas East that concluded in five innings via the 10-run mercy-rule, it just kept hanging around after falling behind 4-0 after one inning, and 12-6 heading into the last of the fifth.

No quit in either team as Louisiana forced a 12-12 tie after six innings, and Santa Fe won it with two runs in the top of the seventh.

Then the Monsters hung as the Bogalusa boys made a final threat. With one out, Kor Terrius Mingo coaxed a full-count walk off left-hander Jeremy Martinez, who was the starter in Friday’s 9-2 setback to Texas West. But he was struggling after coming on in the six-run Louisiana frame and walking three.

But when Zantonio Peters flied out to right field, Mingo listened to his dugout calling for him to tag up. He did and was easily thrown out. Then Martinez struck out Jarvis Dawson and it was finally over as Santa Fe was relieved it wasn’t going any further.

Next the teams met for the routine handshakes and there were many hugs by two exhausted teams. Yes, it will be a disappointing journey home, but at least it was a game effort by the Louisiana kids. They never led, but they made a game of it.

“My kids never quit,” said manager Roy Tillman, “and I was proud of them. This was a tough loss, but we will be remembered for playing down to the final out, and I congratulate the Santa Fe team.”

The opener was not as appealing. The High Plains LL from Colorado was eliminated 15-5, but it, too, battled back with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth before the 10-run mercy rule was applied after six frames. Colorado’s main problems were miscues in the field as it committed nine errors, many on errant throws.

In the 11-run third, New Mexico’s champions took advantage of four errors, three walks and two hit-batsmen as 16 players came to bat. High Plains made changes on the mound, but nothing worked as it fell behind 12-3. In the fourth, Shorthorn added another run, and tacked on one each in the fifth and sixth.

It was outhit, 10-9, but had enough key hits to blend in with the walks and miscues. It left seven runners on base, while Colorado left six. It was not a good day at shortstop and third, as they combined for eight of the errors.

It left for home at 0-2, with everything falling apart after it held a 1-0 lead after four innings Friday, and and the Texas East West University LL wiped it out with a huge 12-run fifth as the heavy rain caused an hour and a half delay when lightening was in the area.

Tim Perry paved the way for Shorthorn with a single, double and 3 RBI. Garret Tucker, son of manager Tony Tucker, added two singles, a walk, scored twice and drove in a run to go with one stolen base.

For Santa Fe, Luc Jaramillo singled twice, walked, scored three times, drove home a run and swiped two bases. Martinez crossed the plate four times, hit an RBI double, walked three times, and stole base. Martinez got the win. It was outhit 11-7, left nine runners aboard, but the six-run fifth upped the margin to 12-7.

But it wasn’t over by any means. And Louisiana’s speed and clutch hits were the reasons it turned into a thriller.

In Sunday’s 9:30 a.m. opener, it will be Texas East against Texas West. Both are 2-0 and the loser drops into the loser’s bracket to face the New Mexico-Santa Fe winner. On Monday it will be for the championship and the winner will advance to the International World Series in Taylor, Mich.

If the remaining team out of the loser’s bracket wins the first game on Monday, there will be a deciding game the same day.