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LA MIRADA — Jayden Valdez blasted a three-run home run in the top of the 10th inning Sunday, breaking a 3-3 tie and lifting the La Mirada Junior All-Stars to a thrilling 6-3 victory over Asia-Pacific and the Junior League Baseball World Series championship.
The dramatic home run capped a back-and-forth championship game in which Asia-Pacific answered nearly every time La Mirada moved ahead.
La Mirada struck first in the fourth inning when Adam Brewer launched a solo home run to left field for a 1-0 lead. Asia-Pacific responded in the bottom half when En-Yu Chen singled home the tying run.
The West champions moved back in front in the sixth when Ryder Ong doubled and drove in a run, giving La Mirada a 2-1 advantage.
Again, Asia-Pacific battled back. Yi-Chieh Chao’s groundout brought home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the championship game into the late innings deadlocked at 2-2.
La Mirada regained the lead in the top of the ninth. Nathan Dowlin delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home a run and put the All-Stars ahead 3-2, leaving them three outs away from the championship.
But Asia-Pacific refused to go quietly. Teng-Hao Wu’s lineout in the bottom of the ninth allowed the tying run to score, making it 3-3 and sending the Junior League World Series championship game into extra innings.
Then came Valdez.
With two runners aboard in the top of the 10th, Valdez drove a pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run homer, suddenly giving La Mirada a 6-3 lead.
This time, the lead held.
Brewer gave La Mirada six strong innings on the mound, surrendering three hits and one unearned run while striking out five and walking three. Jeremiah Ortega came out of the bullpen for La Mirada.
Brewer also contributed at the plate, finishing with two hits, including his fourth-inning home run. Dowlin added two hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth.
But the biggest swing belonged to Valdez, who finished with three RBIs — all coming on the home run that ultimately decided the world championship.
The victory completed an extraordinary postseason run for the La Mirada Junior All-Stars, who arrived at the Junior League World Series representing the West Region and are leaving as world champions.
La Mirada’s Junior All-Stars are locked in a 3-3 thriller in the top of the ninth inning at the Junior League World Series. With the game extending well beyond regulation, La Mirada is battling for every out and every opportunity as the tension continues to build. One swing could now decide it, with La Mirada looking to break the deadlock and keep its remarkable World Series run alive.
update Jaden Valdez hits three run home run La Mirada takes the 6 to 3 top of the 10th