VANCOUVER, WASH.— The Gilroy Junior All Stars finished third in the Western Regional Tournament Wednesday, escaping Washington 7-5, thanks to a four-run seventh inning.
Gilroy fell into the consolation game, following a 14-0 loss to Southern California Tuesday, eliminating the team from a crack at the Junior Little League World Series.
Joseph Aguilera was instrumental in the win, racking up three RBIs on two hits with a walk.
Washington led Gilroy, representing Northern California, 5-3 heading into the final frame. But the tenacious Garlic guys were just getting started.
A single and three consecutive walks got Gilroy within a run at 5-4 with one out in the top of the seventh. With the bases still loaded, David Martinez hit a line drive single to centerfield to score Jacob Longworth to even up the game.
Ben Zanger advanced home on the throw to give Gilroy the lead. Shawn Hernandez sealed the victory with a line drive single, which scored Martinez for the final.
Zanger also tossed six and two-third innings for Gilroy. He allowed four runs—one earned—on seven hits with a walk. At the plate, he went 1 for 3 with a run scored and was also walked.
Aguilera drove in the first of his three RBIs in the top of the first. He hit a line drive single to left field to score Longworth, giving the team a 1-0 lead. Washington answered in the bottom of the even to tie the game at 1-1.
Gilroy widened its lead to 3-1 in the top of the third. Travis Romero raced home on a passed ball to put his team up by one. Aguilera followed up with a double to centerfield on the next play to score Garret Santos.
Washington added two runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
Gilroy opened the tournament with a 15-5 win over Nevada on Aug. 6, but fell to Hawaii 6-1 on Aug. 7. The NorCal crew rebounded with back-to-back 12-2 wins over Montana and Alaska on Aug. 8 and 9, respectively.
