Port Hueneme Drillers strong at the start, wrap up run with 13uD2 title at AZ Spring Championships3/28/2023 by Kyle Koso
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – In the moments before a championship game, preparing to do well might be just as important as it is to play well. For the Port Hueneme Drillers (Ventura, CA), being aware and sharp right out of the gate paid huge dividends Sunday for the Arizona Spring Championships 13uD2 title game, as the Drillers grabbed a 4-0 lead after the first inning and rolled to a 9-0 victory over the El Monte Dukes (CA). While the Dukes will certainly look back and wish for better fortune next time after some early hiccups in the finale, the Drillers were rock-solid, taking advantage of errors and opportunities to grab immediate control of the contest. And with four runs coming across in the top of the seventh inning to seal the deal, the Drillers (seeded No. 2 after pool play) could reflect on a very impressive Sunday that also saw them 10-run their opponent in the 13uD2 semifinal. “We like to jump on the first-pitch fastball and we love to run on the bases. We like to jump on them; for the other team it’s too late after that and they’re playing from behind,” said Drillers head coach Hector Ramos. “That’s our goal, to do that from the beginning.” After the first three batters reached, Jordan Raya crushed a pitch to the right-center fence to make the score 3-0, and Raya scored on a groundout from Richard Pacheco to cap the early burst. “This team has been together a long time; we had a week off during the spring and we decided to play Triple Crown and let the boys have some fun,” Ramos said. “We’ll definitely be back; we love the tournament.” Raya backed up his work at the plate with three impressive innings in taking on the starting pitcher assignment. In the third, the Dukes (top-seeded after pool play) loaded the bases with one out, but Raya answered with a strikeout and a flyout to right field. “It felt good, pitching with the lead. Knowing my teammates will back me up with the offense, and then on defense, is huge,” Raya said. “I don’t always hit my spots, but the defense was there and I felt good. “On (the triple), it was a 3-2 count, and I saw a couple fastballs before, and I thought he’d throw me a curve ball there. He hit his spot, but I ripped it.” Johnny Perez cooked up another run for the Drillers in the fourth, reaching on a single, stealing two bases, and then scoring on an errant throw from catcher to third base. Johnny Gonzales pitched two crisp innings in relief of Ray, also getting out of a bases-loaded moment, and Gavin Ramos swept it up with two more spotless innings that included four strikeouts. The Drillers’ staff rang up nine strikeouts. “One thing about it, everyone on the team can pitch,” coach Ramos added. “We limited everyone’s pitching, so when it came to the championship game, we had everyone available. It showed in this game, and we had two pitchers left who we didn’t need to use.” Elijah Lopez wrapped it up for the Drillers in the seventh with a two-run single to make it 9-0. |