The Bas Wafelbakker DDS Sunbirds completed a late comeback to
beat Torres Construction and DS Builders Riptide 3-2 and advance to
the Gilroy Little League Girls Majors championship game.
The Riptide will have a chance to redeem themselves in the
double-elimination tournament today at 5:30 p.m. when they take on
Dr. Tommy Tong Orthodontics Bandits.
GILROY – The Bas Wafelbakker DDS Sunbirds completed a late comeback to beat Torres Construction and DS Builders Riptide 3-2 and advance to the Gilroy Little League Girls Majors championship game.
Trailing the entire game, Jackie Soriano’s fifth inning RBI single completed the comeback.
Lauren Castro’s single started the inning as she came around to score the first run for the Sunbirds. Emma Leach’s second hit of the game continued the rally. Brook Loesch’s hit to centerfield then plated the tying run and Soriano’s second hit of the contest proved to be the winner as Loesch came sliding into home under the tag.
“The girls never gave up today,” Sunbirds Manager Al Orosco said. “Both pitchers were on their games today.”
The Riptide’s Holly Lam led off the second inning with her third home run of the season to give the Riptide a 1-0 lead. Adrianna Figone’s second hit of the game in the fourth made it 2-0.
A pitching duel taking place between Lam and the Sunbird’s Castro kept things close the entire way. Lam had 10 strikeouts and Castro recorded 11.
The playoff format is double-elimination, leaving the Riptide with another opportunity to get to the title game.
“It was a tough game to lose, but we aren’t out of it yet,” Riptide manager Glen Irby said. “We look forward to getting back on the field [today].”
The Riptide will take on Dr. Tommy Tong Orthodontics Bandits today at 5:30 p.m. to see who has the right to play the Sunbirds in Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. championship game.
In a first-round game between the two clubs to start the playoffs last Tuesday, the Riptide held on for a 5-4 win.
The Riptide’s Lam, Jacklyn Camria and Brianna Barron all score in the second, and two more runs were added in the third on Alli Hathaway’s two-run double.
The Bandits started their comeback when Mackenzie Mitchell plated Dejah Raoof and Anna Gamboa with a double of her own.
With the Riptide only needing one more out to end the game, the Bandits scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Raoof’s double scored Jessica Asuncion and Cierra Valdez. Lam managed to coax a comebacker to get the final out.
“Our girls really showed some character in never giving up, ” said Dave Ellis, manager of the Bandits.
