Lakeside Jr. All-Stars top Woodcreek, 4-3, in nine innings to set up second championship game

Lakeside and Woodcreek met Monday night at Lockridge Park in Roseville to decide the District 54 Junior All-Star championship and they enjoyed playing each other so much they're going to do it all over again on Tuesday. That, of course, is only because Lakeside won the game, 4-3, in nine innings, handing Woodcreek their first loss of the tournament. In the previous meeting between the two teams June 17, Woodcreek beat Lakeside, 4-1. On this night, Lakeside scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning and held that lead until Woodcreek's last at bat, when they scored twice to tie the game. Neither team scored in the eighth inning, but in the ninth Woodcreek took a 3-2 lead and were three outs away from winning the game. Lakeside, however, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game and avenge the loss six days earlier. That sets up the championship game on Tuesday night. In the top of the ninth inning with Lucas Sueldo starting on second base, Sueldo moved up to third on a ground out by Brody Stevens before Ryan Giammona, the last hitter in Woodcreek's lineup, singled to right field to score Sueldo to put Woodcreek in front for the first time in the game, 3-2. In the bottom of the ninth with Lakeside's Paul Swinney starting on second base, Tysen Turo, Lakeside's last hitter in their lineup, singled to move Swinney to third base. Curtis Otvos followed with a single to shortstop which allowed Swinney to score and moved Turo to third base. With Marshall Vaughan hitting his pitch limit, Woodcreek brought in Cobalt Mathis to pitch and he intentionally walked Mateo Flores to load the bases for Aaron Toft. Toft then hit a ground ball to Woodcreek's shortstop, who threw home to get Turo out at the plate. The next hitter, Chase Henning, hit the ball over the left fielder's head which scored Otvos to win the game for Lakeside. "It was a fun game," Lakeside Manager Mike Burton said. "All I can say is the boys never gave up. That's what half this team did in TOCs in winning there, and they've spread that kind of courageous attitude to this team. They just kept battling. It doesn't matter how much we get ahead or get behind, they never feel like they're out of a game. Anything can happen, especially in a game against a good team like Woodcreek. "We knew we had to put the bat on the ball, which is something we didn't do in our last game against them. Tonight we were able to get some timely hits." Woodcreek also never gave up, as they trailed 2-0 for three innings before tying the game in the top of the seventh inning. "It's not the outcome we wanted, but these boys battled from being two down," Woodcreek Manager Scott Vaughan said. "They're fierce competitors. The lineup, one through 12, is animals. They want to win. They want to dominate, and they want to show what Woodcreek is all about. I just loved their spirit tonight." Lakeside score two runs in the bottom of the third inning off Woodcreek starting pitcher Chase Landrus, Colin VanGils and Brayden Malkinson both singled and Landrus walked Mark Yabrof to load the bases. Swinney then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in VanGils before Landrus was lifted from the game after walking Turo. Marshall Vaughan came into pitch and Otvos singled in Malkinson for a 2-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Woodcreek finally was able to score once Lakeside starter Dylan Gutierrez reached his pitch limit. Zach Purinton singled off Gutierrez, who was replaced on the mound by Jack Raby. Purinton stole second base before Jackson Adrian popped out to second base. Landrus and Kaden Coco followed with singles to load the bases for Zach Cohen, who was hit by a pitch and pushed Purinton across the plate. Landrus then scored on a groundout by Vaughan to tie the game at two, setting up the exciting finish two innings later. "I feel really confident going into tomorrow night's game," Burton said. Added Vaughan, "I told our boys to keep their heads held high. Lakeside is a great team and we took them to nine innings and had a chance to win. The boys will be ready for tomorrow night."