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La Mirada breaks a late tie with three runs in the sixth inning to defeat the Southeast Region and move forward at the Junior League Baseball World Series.
LCCN Staff Report
TAYLOR, Mich. — The La Mirada Junior All-Stars are moving on.
Representing the West Region at the Junior League Baseball World Series, La Mirada broke open a tie game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday and held on for a 5-3 victory over the Southeast Region at Heritage Park in Taylor, Michigan.
La Mirada entered the World Series after a remarkable undefeated postseason run and continued its winning ways on the biggest stage.
Adam Brewer gave La Mirada an early lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning.
The Southeast responded in the third, taking a 2-1 lead after a La Mirada error and an RBI groundout by Ames Thomas.
La Mirada remained within striking distance until the bottom of the fifth, when Noel Jaime’s sacrifice fly brought home the tying run and made it 2-2.
Then came the decisive sixth inning.
Ryder Ong singled down the left-field line to put La Mirada ahead. Jeremiah Ortega drew a bases-loaded walk to force home another run, and Blake Leal’s fielder’s choice brought in the third run of the inning, giving La Mirada a 5-2 advantage.
The Southeast managed one run in the seventh, but Brewer closed the door to earn the save and secure La Mirada’s 5-3 victory.
Ong led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Brewer added a hit and an RBI, while Leal, Ortega and Jaime each drove in a run.
La Mirada finished with just three hits but made the most of its opportunities, drawing six walks.
The pitching staff did the rest.
Starter Jayden Valdez worked three innings, allowing three hits and two runs, only one earned, while striking out five.
Ortega was outstanding in relief, allowing just one hit and one run over three innings while striking out three to earn the victory.
Brewer pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two and allowing no hits to record the save.
La Mirada’s defense also turned two double plays.
The victory keeps alive a remarkable postseason for the La Mirada Junior All-Stars, who reached the Junior League Baseball World Series for the first time in 23 years.
And now, the West Region champions are one step closer to bringing another World Series title home to La Mirada.
Their next game is Wednesday against Michigan, who beat the East team 6-1 on Sunday and the Southwest team 10-0 on Monday.