Eagle Pass Little League Softball Juniors Edged by Anchorage, Alaska 3-1
By: Anthony Sifuentes and Ricardo E. Calderon©
With the best nine 14 & Under Little League Softball teams in the world participating at the 2012 Little League Softball Junior League World Series in Kirkland, Washington, the Eagle Pass Little League Softball Juniors’ All-Stars are learning on their first ever trip to the World Series that the difference between winning and losing depends on which team executes, commits the least errors, gets the timely hits, defense and pitching holds the other team from not crossing home plate, and a little luck. In other words, the difference between a win and a loss at the World Series is so minuscule as all the teams are equally talented and capable of winning on any given day.
The Eagle Pass Little League Juniors’ All-Stars fell in a hard fought battle against the West All-Stars from Anchorage, Alaska by a score of 3 to 1 in Pool B play on Monday, August 13, 2012, going 0-2 in pool play. Eagle Pass jumped to a 1 to 0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Melanie Mendoza got on base on a fielder’s choice and starting pitcher Julia Cruz belted an RBI single to center field to score the swift-footed Mendoza. Eagle Pass led 1 to 0 until the top of the third inning when Anchorage, Alaska scored a run to tie the game at 1 to 1.
Both teams battled tied until the top of the seventh inning as Anchorage, Alaska scored two runs with two outs on an Eagle Pass error to take a 3 to 1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Eagle Pass threatened to score with two outs with bases loaded and the next Eagle Pass batter singled but an Eagle Pass base runner was called out at third base on a base running error for the third out to end the game with Anchorage, Alaska barely edging the never say die Eagle Pass Juniors’ All-Stars 3 to 1.
Eagle Pass ace pitcher, Julia Cruz, hurled seven innings for a complete game in taking the loss, allowing six hits, one walk, striking out four batters, and surrendering only one earned run and two unearned runs. Eagle Pass will next play on Tuesday, August 14th, at 12:45pm Central Standard Time against Latin America, represented by Manuabo, Puerto Rico, who is undefeated in Pool B play at 2-0 and has won two of the last three Junior League Softball World Series Championships.
Nonetheless, Eagle Pass team manager Cesar Flores stated the Eagle Pass Juniors’ All-Stars have learned tremendously from their first two games and will be ready to tackle the perennially tough Puerto Rico All-Stars. After the game against Latin America (Puerto Rico), Eagle Pass will complete Pool B play on Thursday, August 16th, at 3:45pm Central Standard Time against the Europe and Mediterrean Champion from Prague, Czech Republic. World Series aficionados have positively commented about the Eagle Pass Juniors’ All-Stars competitiveness and sportsmanship to date.
