By Jim Montecalvo

Staff writer

jmontecalvo@observer-reporter.com

The early stages of the Pony League World Series championship game couldn't have been much worse for Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, second baseman Christian E. Rivera.

Rivera committed errors on potential double-play groundballs in each of the first two innings. In each instance, the error eventually cost Trujillo Alto a run and helped Long Beach, Calif., build a 3-2 lead after three innings. The batter following his second error bunted, but Rivera covered second base instead of first on the wheel play, allowing Long Beach to load the bases.

But Rivera's day would get better and, with a little help from his teammates, Trujillo Alto rallied for an 8-3 victory Saturday at Lew Hays Pony Field.

"It's something unbelievable," Trujillo Alto manager Edwin Correa said. "When you win, you have to fill some big shoes. To come back and do it is very special to us."

No one was more relieved or emotional after the game than Rivera, who fell to his knees and put his head in his hands at his second base position while the rest of the Trujillo Alto team celebrated near the pitcher's mound.

"He's a kid that almost never misses a play, but you could see the minute before we took the field he was shaken up," Correa said. "I was trying to calm him down. He got a force out at home and got a base hit, so he did OK after that."

So did the rest of the team, which scored two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth on its way to the win.

The championship marked the first time a team from Puerto Rico has won back-to-back Pony titles. Puerto Rico swept the Pony, Colt and Palomino titles this year.

Rivera, who is 13 and the youngest player on the Trujillo Alto team, was feeling more than just relief after the game.

"This is my first championship with my brother (catcher Cesar Rivera) and it means the world to me," Christian E. Rivera said with Correa translating. "I was frustrated at the beginning, but very relieved that we came back and got the win."

Trujillo Alto (4-0) took advantage of some miscues by Long Beach to stay close early. Cesar Rivera walked, moved to third when a pick-off attempt went down the right-field line and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. In the third, Victor Claudio reached on an infield single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

"Unfortunately, we made a lot of mistakes early and they hurt us," Long Beach manager Rick Romo said. "We let them stay in the game and we knew if we did, they would eventually push forward."

With the bases loaded and no outs in the second, Long Beach No. 2 hitter Spencer Troutman hit a hard groundball to Christian E. Rivera, who threw home to record an out. On the play, Pat Merola initially didn't run from second base and was tagged out going to third.

Prior to the double play, Long Beach (3-1) scored a run when Sean Buckle was hit by a Kelvin Rivas pitch, but the play squashed a what could have been a big inning.

"That was definitely the turning point because we had them down and I think they were a little bit rattled," Romo said. "Our baserunner just forgot what the situation was."

And it wasn't long until the Trujillo Alto offense got going.

Claudio singled and scored on a wild pitch in the third inning and Rivas belted a solo homer to tie the game, 3-3, in the fourth.

In the fifth, Claudio walked and scored on Cesar Ogando's triple. Ogando came home when Juan Pizarro grounded out.

Trujillo Alto added its final three runs in the sixth. Rivas hit a second solo homer and Anthony Stewart added a two-run shot.

"I knew the errors would stop somehow, somewhere," Correa said. "We needed a chance to manufacture some runs. You might get these kids the first time around, but the second time they make adjustments to where the pitch is thrown."

Troutman pitched four solid innings for Long Beach. His breaking ball was effective and he gave up just two earned runs. Troutman, though, didn't return for the fifth and Trujillo Alto put the game out of reach. Tyler Erickson took the loss.

"He was ready to go, but at the end, he ran out of gas," Romo said of Troutman. "We could have gone with him a little bit more, but we didn't want to send him out there and let him get bombed."

Rivas started on the mound for Trujillo Alto. He wasn't a sharp as he was during a 14-strikeout, complete-game win over Chinese Taipei in the second round, but Rivas still pitched four innings and struck out six.

Stewart pitched the last three innings, retiring all nine batter he faced for the win. Stewart won the award for the lowest ERA during the series. He did not give up an earned run in 8 2/3 innings.

"Stewart has a lot of poise," Correa said. "He goes after his business with no fear, and he's a great competitor. They are all great competitors."

Notes

Ogando, Rivas and Stewart each had two hits. ... Ogando tied the record for triples during the series with two. Peter Zeck of Fairmont, WVa. also had two triples in the 1953 Pony World Series. ... Chris Hubble had a two-run single in the first and Buckle was 2-for-3 for Long Beach. ... Jared Pinson of Kingwood, Texas, had the highest batting average (.583) during the series. ... California has won 19 Pony titles, which is more than any state or nation. Puerto Rico is second with seven. ... Rae Molinaro, who will be a freshman at Trinity High School, was named Pony Hostess.

Home