Little League wins in shocker

Contrary to what the first four innings of play would indicate Monday night, there is still a Barstow All-Star team remaining in the District 49 All-Stars Tournament.

The 9- and-10-year-old East Barstow All-stars pulled off a come-from-behind victory to beat Spring Valley Lake 13-12 at James A. Woody Park in Apple Valley.

The win gives Barstow a spot to fight for the District 49 Championship.

East Barstow will play Victorville Ribbons at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at James A. Woody Park in Apple Valley. Because the Victorville Ribbons have yet to lose in a double-elimination tournament, East Barstow will have to defeat them twice to be crowned champions. The second game would be played Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Apple Valley if necessary.

Down 12-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the East Barstow All-stars scored 11 runs in the final two innings to capture the victory.

“We just had heart, and we didn’t give up, and they just came out swinging,” assistant coach Henry Manglona said.

The scoring in the sixth began when Gabriel Enriquez led off with a  solo home run, followed by three shut-down innings by pitcher Richie Ebel.

“We preached that hitting is contagious, and once one hits, everyone catches on,” Manglona said. 

the East Barstow 9- and-10-year-old boys All-stars have unleashed their offensive weapons in recent victories over Hesperia National and Sunset.  

In the last two games, the boys outscored their opponents by a combined 21-6, keeping them alive in their quest to advance in the District 49 Little League Tournament at James A. Woody Park in Apple Valley.

East Barstow’s Richie Ebel’s grand slam in the fifth inning, propelled them to a 14-4 victory in the loser’s bracket over Hesperia National on July 5. Ebel’s teammate Lucky Martinez followed the same inning with a two-run blast. 

The East Barstow boys were the only team left competing in the tournament after the West Barstow Junior All-stars. The West Barstow team lost 7-3 to Victorville American. 

“Our pitching was there last night,” Westside coach Jim McCall said. “Six of the runs were unearned. Our pitching carried us through the tournament.”

The 9- and 10-year-old softball girls, who finished their regular season with a perfect 20-0 record, finished their postseason with a 11-3 loss to Apple Valley American.

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