Moses Lake 12U baseball state champs

ELLENSBURG - The Moses Lake 12U Americans were staring elimination square in the face after dropping their first three games in pool play at the Cal Ripken North Washington 12U State Tournament in Ellensburg held July 12-15.

But the team pulled off an improbable come back by winning their next five games to claim the championship for the first time in the last 12 years.

"The past 48 hours or so have been really hectic and exciting as well," coach Michael Valdez said. "Quite honestly, I still don't know how we did it after going 0-3 to start the tournament."  

The Americans got off to a rough start without a doubt as they lost their opening game 6-5 Thursday to Anacortes. Things didn't get any better in game two as the team dropped the contest to Lynden 6-1. The Americans followed that loss with a 11-7 defeat at the hands of Conway in game three.

"There weren't too many bright spots during our pool play until our game against Conway," Valdez said. "We were down 11-3 in the fourth inning. But Jordan Rios got things going with a lead off walk. Caleb Juarez followed with a walk and Daiman Vasquez singled to center to load the bases. Then Austin Valdez came up with a grand slam home run to straightaway center field to close the gap to 11-7."

Payton Castro singled, but was stranded on first base after a couple of fly outs and a strikeout to end the inning and the game.

The Americans got their first win against Port Angeles, 4-0, to stay alive in the tournament.

"That game wasn't very pretty," Valdez said. "But it raised the kids confidence level and gave the team hope."

The three losses meant the Americans had to be perfect as they made their way through the consolation bracket as the No. 4 seed. One defeat and it would be all she wrote for the team as they faced single elimination the rest of the way.

The Americans opened single elimination play on Saturday with a 9-3 win over Nooksack Valley. That win put the team on the diamond to face the host and No. 1 seed Ellensburg. But the Americans refused to fold under the pressure.

"Our starting pitcher Jordan Rios pitched three scoreless innings against Nooksack Valley, and we were able to take advantage of their offensive lull and scored seven runs including a 3-run home run by Daiman in the top of the third inning," Valdez said. "Ellensburg got off to a good first inning as they took a 1-0 lead. But our kids didn't let it bother them. Back-to-back singles by Cameron Duke and Jordan Rios, and a RBI double by Austin Valdez tied it 1-1. Caleb Juarez singled to load the bases. Daiman hit a RBI single to make it 2-1 and keep the bases loaded, then Matthew Vasquez hit a grand slam to push the score to score 6-1 in our favor."

But Ellensburg would not go away quietly as the team bounced back with five runs in the top of the second to tie the game 6-6. Moses Lake got a run back in the bottom of the third inning to retake the lead 7-6. The Americans made it 10-6 with three more runs in the fourth off of singles by Rios and Juarez and a 3-run dinger by Castro. Ellensburg added a run in the fourth to get within three, 10-7. Moses Lake got an insurance run in the fifth to get some much needed breathing room, 11-7. Ellensburg put one more on the board in the sixth inning, but it was too little too late as Moses Lake won the contest to send the team into the semifinal game against Lynden Sunday morning.

"We were really concerned with playing the No. 1 seed (Ellensburg) because we had lost to them in Moses Lake," Valdez said. "But the team responded well and was able to beat them here and keep advancing."  

The Americans turned back Lynden 3-2 to move into the championship game against Anacortes, which they had little trouble with as the blew past the team 20-8 to claim the title.

"Lynden's pitchers held us scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Austin (Valdez) led off with a single down the first base line. Caleb followed him with a double, and a walk by Cody Goodwin loaded the bases. Daiman (Vasquez) reached base on an throwing error which allowed us to score three runs,"Valdez said."We got off to a slow start in the game against Anacortes and fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. But we answered back with five runs in the second, one in the fourth and eight in the fifth on the strength of two 3-run home runs by Caleb (Juarez) as we batted around the lineup."

By virtue of their state championship, the Americans have qualified for the regional tournament that takes place the last weekend of the month in Meridian, Idaho.

The team will be holding a couple of car washes from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 21 at the Avila Detailing and Love Me Espresso and Breakfast (next to Ripple Tavern) to help raise money for the trip.

If the Americans place first or second in their division at the regional tournament, the team will travel to Winchester, Mass. to take part in the 12U World Series.