Heading home with tough win

After defeating Stamford, Conn., Columbia Basin handed ticket home

PURCELLVILLE, Va. - A victory with their heads hung low and coming home. And a bruise between the shoulder blades of Edward Rodriguez' back.

The 16-year-old Babe Ruth World Series came to an end early for the Columbia Basin Junior River Dogs. After dropping two straight games Monday and Tuesday, Columbia Basin was prepared to get back on the winning track against Stamford, Conn., picking up a 2-1 win over their opponent to force a three-way tie for second and third place.

The tie-breaking rules forced Columbia Basin to put up a three-run margin between them and Stamford to clinch one of the remaining two spots. Anything less would be a ticket home and a spot for Nederland, Texas.

Stamford delivered.

"We did everything to prepare for the game and we worked so hard all year just to get to this point," said Reid Forrest, who picked up a no decision in the game. "Any win is a good win, but I don't know if it counts in this case."

Twice, the Junior River Dogs came to the plate with bases loaded, but twice, the only hit to save their season was a home run. In the bottom of the seventh, Devin Benson faced a tired Albie Simeone, who passed the 100-mark pitch count, and popped up to Stamford's Joe Mangano in foul territory.

That was fine with the River Dogs, anything else would have ended the season.

In the ninth, Curran Redal singled to right and Derek Elder reached on an error. Jeff Jack singled down the left field line to load the bases for Edward Rodriguez, whose only thought was a grand slam.

"The adrenaline rush was crazy," Rodriguez said. "I just knew I had to get it to the fence one way or the other."

After two fast balls on the inside corner, Stamford pitcher David Fisher plunked Rodriguez in the middle of the back with a curve ball, forcing Redal to score from third, ending the inning and clinching a spot for Stamford in the playoffs.

"I think with having the bases loaded and a pretty decent bat coming up, as soon as we score one run, the game is over," Hansen said. "They just needed to walk the guy and if that was their plan, they didn't need to drill our guy."

The pitch to the back left Rodriguez with little doubt it was intentional.

"I honestly think so, the first two were right in my chest and I had to move," Rodriguez said.

Columbia Basin was not left without opportunity before reaching sudden death twice in the seventh and the ninth. After Elder drove in the first inning in the third, he stole second base with two outs, handing Mike Miller an opportunity to add to the lead, but Miller struck out to end the inning.

Forrest slapped a single down the left field line in the fourth and reached second on Brodie McCormick's walk. Both runners advanced 90-feet on a wild pitch, before Forrest ended the inning trying to steal home with both the pitcher and catcher's backs away from the plate to stop a potential opportunity.

Columbia Basin left two more runners in scoring position heading into the seventh inning, before having to play home run ball to advance in the tournament.

"We had opportunities and we just didn't get it done and maybe the big guy up stairs figures this is the way it is supposed to be," Hansen said.

The Junior River Dogs did bring what was missing the last two days - intensity. The bench rallied behind each pitch, heckling the opposing pitcher and rallying behind Forrest on the mound.

Forrest was faced with the biggest game of the Junior River Dogs tournament, facing elimination. His 8 1/3 innings pitched allowed one run and four hits, while striking out six to allow Columbia Basin to put together enough runs to secure a birth to Thursday's playoff tournament. Jorge Reyes finished the ninth for Forrest, striking out the last two batters with two runners on base. Reyes picked up the win after Rodriguez scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Elder was credited with the other run batted in for Columbia Basin in the third inning, finishing the game 2-for-5. Redal was the other multi-hitter for the Junior River Dogs and scored the winning run.

"It didn't work out and it is just as well, the kids learned a lot about life things and how things don't go your way, but take advantage of things when you have the chance," Hansen said.

Bakersfield, Calif. clinched the No. 1 seed in the American League on Tuesday after their 5 1 win over Columbia Basin. Stamford clinched the No. 2 seed and Nederland, Texas awaited the final between Columbia Basin and Stamford for the final spot on Thursday.

Bakersfield has a bye in the first round, while Stamford faces the National League No. 3 seed and Nederland faces the National League No. 2 seed. The winners advance to face Bakersfield and the National League No. 1 seed on Friday.

For Columbia Basin, the season ended with a 2-2 record at the World Series and missing a continued season by two runs.

"Winning is a good feeling, but it is terrible because you know you win and still have to go home," Forrest said. "We played our hardest and what happened, happened."

Stamford, Conn. 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2

Columbia Basin 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 0

Columbia Basin Stamford, Conn.

AB R H RBI AB R H RBI

LF Redal 5 1 2 0 3B DiNapoli 2 0 0 0

2B Elder 5 0 2 1 2B Fisher 1 0 0 0

CF Miller 3 0 0 0 C Hubbard 4 1 1 0

SS Rodriguez 3 0 0 1 P Simeone 3 0 1 0

P Forrest 3 0 1 0 LF Christensen 4 0 1 1

3B Munoz 2 0 0 0 CF Poltrack 4 0 0 0

C McCormick 2 0 0 0 SS Fico 3 0 0 0

1B Sorensen 2 1 1 0 RF Schenk 3 0 1 0

RF Borunda 1 0 0 0 1B Mangano 1 0 0 0

PH Ratigan 3 0 1 0 PH Amor 1 0 0 0

PH Moron 0 0 0 0 PH Romaniello 1 0 0 0

PH Bator 1 0 0 0 PH D'Andrea 1 0 0 0

PH Jack 2 0 1 0 PH Amor 1 0 0 0

PH Benson 1 0 0 0

Total: 33 2 8 2 29 1 4 1