Senior League Baseball World Series News
August 17, 2013
Garcia pitches Chitre to world title, 2-1
Winning run scores on a passed ball in the 6th
By Tony Consiglio
Special to the Daily Local News
Kennett Square KAU L.L., Kennett Square, Pa., had opportunities to win the Senior League Baseball World Series championship on Saturday, but just could not muster enough offense, as the U.S. East champs lost to the Latin America champions from Chitre, Herrera, Panama, 2-1.
It is the only Bangor World Series title game decided by only one run.
Kennett Square left runners on second and third bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a chance to tie it or win it, but could not score.
Jake Freeman reached on an error and Eric Takoushian singled. A sacrifice bunt by Dan Garver moved each runner up, but they were stranded there after a strikeout and a foul pop out to the first baseman to end the game.
It was a disappointing end to an incredible run.
“What I’ve found as a coach is I’m not big on pep speeches, particularly in a devastating loss like that,” Kennett Square manager Todd Duerr said. “I just went around and commended each of them. I said, look, you’re great people, great kids, great baseball players. This doesn’t change a thing about you. It just stings really hard.”
Kennett Square had trouble getting much offense going, managing just four hits all game while striking out nine times. Chitre pitcher Javier Garcia used a 90 mph fastball and a devastating curve ball to keep the Kingston batters off balance.
“We were just swinging right over the top of it,” Duerr said. “It was mixed up pretty good between fastballs up, out. It was well done on the pitching mound.”
The only run Kennett Square could muster came in the fourth inning. Joe Zirolli doubled, then moved to third on an error by the Panama third baseman. He scored on a Takoushian ground out to the second baseman, which gave the U.S. East champs a 1-0 lead.
Chitre picked up its only two runs in the sixth. The Latin America champs’ first two runners reached on a single and a walk. A sacrifice bunt put them at second and third with one out. The tying run came in on a single to the shortstop, and the eventual winning run scored on a passed ball.
Pitcher Alex Pechin retired the first seven batters he faced and tossed a complete game for Kennett Square. He threw 89 pitches, scattering seven hits and striking out two.
He got some help from his defense in the fourth. With a runner on first, first baseman Tucker Reese made a catch on a soft line drive, then dived to tag out Edgardo Sandoval who was trying to get back to the bag.
Pechin was working without his usual battery-mate, Eric Duerr, who suffered a concussion and whiplash during a collision at home plate with Garcia in the teams’ game on Wednesday night.