June 27, 2011
The Real Deal 14U team competed in the USSSA Legacy Tournament June 26-27. RD came out as tournament champions, going 4-0. The 14U team was 2-0 after the seeding round and was the overall #1 seed going into the playoffs. RD beat the IE 66ers and the Bakersfield Nitro 7-3 and 13-1, respectively, in the seeding round. Kenneth Pettibone pitched a strong first game, going 5 innings and giving up only 2 earned runs. James Tan closed it out with a perfect inning in relief. Offense was led by Alex Wakely, going 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored. Pettibone helped himself out with a 2 run double to seal the victory. In game 2 the offense racked up 11 hits, including a home run to deep left center by Ramon Chaves. Chaves ended up with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored. John Hernandez had a bases loaded 2 run double in the 1st to help put the game out of reach quickly. Jacob Manzur was a perfect 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs and pitched 4 innings with 6 strike outs and no walks in the mercy shortened game.
In the semi-finals, RD beat the IE 66ers again by a score of 7-3. Although the score was the same as in the seeding round, the game was much closer. RD was losing 3-2 going into the bottom of the 5th. RD put up 5 runs in the inning to go up 7-3 and shut out the 66ers in the 6th. Christian Cosby had an RBI single to tie it up at 3 and Hernandez had a 2 run double to put them up for good. Jared Cardenas pitched 5 strong innings and Chaves closed out the 6th.
In the championship game, RD defeated the Menifee Mustangs 12-5. The Mustangs were the #2 seed and also undefeated going into the finals. RD scored early and often, taking a 7-1 lead into the 3rd. The Mustangs scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd cutting the lead to 7-4. RD answered with 2 in the 4th and put the game away with 3 more in the 7th. Offense was led by George Dillon, Cosby and Cardenas who each had 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Pitching was led by Tan, Hernandez and Austin Reynolds. Tan went 2 2/3, Hernandez 2 1/3 and Reynolds 2 innings in the championship game.