West Barstow exits All-Star tourney

BARSTOW • The All-Stars from West Barstow came up just two runs short.

The West Barstow 11-and-12 year-olds took on Victorville American and lost, 6-4, on Tuesday, at Fogelsong Park. It was a do-or-die loser’s bracket match, which eliminates West Barstow from the District 49 All-Star Tournament.

What was the problem? It was simply one of those days, according to manager Kevin Maune.

“That’s what you call a bad baseball day,” he said when it was over. “No control, no focus. This is a good bunch of kids, but we had no intensity today.”

Still, Barstow was in it until the final out. The West took the game’s first lead, scoring a run in the top of the second. Barstow made Victorville pay for a miscue, as a dropped third strike allowed Jorge Cisneros to reach base. He took second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Kevin Locke single.

Victorville took the lead with two runs in the bottom half, but Barstow got the run back in the top of the third. Marcus Woolridge led off by legging out an infield single and taking second on a passed ball. Brandon Jackson then singled to left, and when the ball was bobbled, Woolridge came home.

The score was tied at 2-2, but again, VV pulled ahead in its half. It was almost a 1-2-3 inning, with a strikeout followed by a nice catch of a fly to center by Woolridge making for a quick two outs. John Carlos then hit another pitch to left, but this one cleared the fence for a solo homer.

The score remained 3-2 when Barstow made its last charge, plating two in the fifth to take the lead. Jackson cracked a lead-off single and Brandon Maune reached on an error. With one away, Locke got to first on a throwing error, with Jackson scoring on the play. Adrian Friend followed with a fielder’s choice that brought Maune home.

That gave Barstow a precarious one-run lead, and once again, VV refused to go quietly. An RBI single by Jacob Carlos, a sacrifice ground out, an error and a passed ball led to three runs, and VV was on top by two with Barstow having just three outs left. The West got two runners on base in the top of the sixth, but VV pitcher Alex Echeagaray made a nice grab of a screaming liner off the bat of Logan Riley for the third out.

Barstow had a total of six hits. Locke singled twice and drove in a run, while Jackson also had two hits and a run scored. Friend had a single and RBI, Woolridge a single and run scored, while Maune and Cisneros also scored.

Riley went three-plus innings on the mound, giving up three hits and two walks, striking out six. Cisneros went the rest of the way, allowing two hits, walking and fanning two.
The loss brought an end to the West’s season, but manager Maune made sure his players kept things in perspective.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the kids to be where they’re at,” he said. “There’s lots more ahead for them, and I know they’ll continue to have successful baseball careers.”