California takes 1-0 lead in Legion semifinal series
California shortstop Ty Bell (right) looks to complete a double play after the force out of Farmington's Anthony Molchan at second base as second baseman Clay Roman looks on during Saturday's Fayette American Legion Baseball League semifinal at California.
Farmington catcher Dante O'Connell makes the force out at the plate with the bases loaded, but his throw to first was not in time for a double play during Saturday's game against California in the Fayette American Legion Baseball League semifinals. With bases loaded, Farmington catcher Dante O'Connell makes the force out against California's Nick Jones, then throws to first, attempting a double play, but not in enough time.
California's Tyler Delval (center) is congratulated by teammates after he smacked a two-run home run during Saturday's Fayette American Legion Baseball League semifinals against Farmington in California.
California first baseman Tyler Sabatula reaches for the ball as he holds on Farmington's Cody Jackson during Saturday's Fayette American Legion Baseball League playoff game in California. California's first baseman Tyler Sabatula holds Framington's Cody Jackson at first.
COAL CENTER 鈥� Tyler Delval threw a shutout, and helped himself with a two-run home run in the third inning as California took a leap toward a spot in the Fayette American Legion Baseball League finals with a 12-0 victory against Farmington.
The game was called in the fifth due to the 12-run mercy rule.
Delval improved to 4-0 as he walked a batter and struck out six.
鈥淚 had success today with my fastball, which they couldn鈥檛 get a hit on tonight,鈥� said Delval. 鈥淚 also used a curveball that I left on the corner of the plate. I felt pretty confident coming in that I would have success.鈥�
Taking a 1-0 lead in the first when Matt Sabatini singled to score Ty Bell from second base, California (16-3) tacked on nine more in the second and third innings.
Sabatini finished tied with Mike Knox, Bell and Delval with two RBI each.
Seth Hvizda, in his first at-bat of the game, helped seal the game for California as he belted an Aaron Litman pitch into right field for two runs.
Hvizda was thrown out trying to reach second on the hit, but the runs would help to invoke the mercy rule as Bell, on the mound as reliever in the fifth, struck out consecutive batters to end the game.
Farmington (7-10) will try to prevent elimination when it hosts California at 2 p.m.
Because the first game was postponed on Friday due to rain, if Farmington wins the second game, the teams will play a rubber match later at the same venue.
Citing his team蘑菇视频 success hitting the ball in the game, California manager Chase Roman feels his team has momentum going forward.
鈥淲e want to go out there and take care of business tomorrow,鈥� said Roman. 鈥淲e are hitting the ball well and have done so the past few games. The key is to forget about today and play tomorrow like it蘑菇视频 the only game of the season.鈥�
Roman added that Sabatini would be the starting pitcher.
Farmington committed four errors resulting in three runs, part of what manager Lloyd Jackson felt was a challenging day.
鈥淲e just played flat from the beginning,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淣othing went right today. We committed errors, didn鈥檛 get our hits, just an all around tough day for us.鈥�
California had a 12-4 advantage in hits against Farmington, with Derek Anderson leading the team as he went 3-for-3 and scored three runs.
Clay Roman, Nick Jones and Sabatini contributed with two hits for California.
Litman replaced Alex Panos, who took the loss as he surrendered four hits, walked four and struck out one in 1.1 innings.