Tijuana knocks out Washington County in 8 innings
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsrooom@observer-reporter.com
You have to hand it to the Washington County Pony All-Stars.
Win or lose, they are a fun group to watch.
Washington County defeated the Bronx, N.Y., 19-9 in Tuesday’s elimination game of the Pony League World Series at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Park. Later that evening, Washington County put on one of the tournament’s best rallies.
However, this was one rally Washington County couldn’t finish. Tijuana, Mexico, which led 6-0 through 4 1/2 innings, scored two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to take a 10-8 victory.
Mexico plays Puerto Rico in tonight’s 7:30 p.m. championship game.
“We were just never out of the fight,” said Washington County manager Andrew Wuenstel. “All credit to Mexico. Sometimes, you end up on the wrong side of things. I’m so proud of how we battled and how we didn’t pack it in.”
Tijuana drew first blood in the second inning but it could have been much worse. Mexico loaded the bases with no outs and allowed just one run. Carlos Pardo struck out as did Axel Briones. Bryan Espinoza flew out to left field to end the threat.
Washington County threatened in the second but Landon Trnavsky was caught in a rundown between second and third bases and was tagged out.
Mexico made it 2-0 in the third inning when Emilio Conteras singled home Alexander Jimenez, who opened the inning with a single and got into scoring position by stealing second.
Mexico scored three times in the fourth inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead and one more in the fifth to make it 6-0.
Washington began its rally in the fifth inning when Bryan Schmeltz cracked a three-run home run. Washington County would add another run before the inning ended to cut Mexico’s lead to 6-4. Washington County would score four times in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead. One of the big hits was a Schmeltz’s single.
But Mexico wasn’t finished. They cut the lead to 8-7 in the seventh inning and loaded the bases with two outs. Romeo Brionis walked with the bases loaded to tie the game 8-8.