Woodcreek tops Lakeside for District 54 Junior title

After playing to a 4-3 score in nine innings Monday night, the Lakeside and Woodcreek Junior All-Star teams met again Tuesday with the District 54 championship on the line and this time Woodcreek won the game by a 4-3 score and did so in a regulation seven innings. Avenging the loss from the night before, Woodcreek jumped on top 3-0 before Lakeside tied the score with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Woodcreek was able to score one more run in the top of the fourth inning and held on for the win. Unlike Monday night when Lakeside jumped out to the 2-0 lead, Tuesday night it was Woodcreek that scored two runs in the top of the second to take the early lead. Zach Cohen singled, Lucas Sueldo walked and Gavin Mayer singled to load the bases against Lakeside starting pitcher Chase Henning, who pitched five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out three. The next batter, Ryan Giammona, hit into a fielder's choice, as Henning got the out at home plate. The next batter, Cobalt Mathis, hit a ball to the shortstop, who threw to second for the out, which allowed Sueldo to score from third. Mayer then scored on a passed ball to put Woodcreek in front, 2-0. Woodcreek scored another run in the top of the third inning when Brody Stevens singled, stole second, moved to third on Daniel Khuu's sacrifice bunt and came into score on Zach Purinton's single. Lakeside came alive in the bottom of the third inning, scoring all three of their runs. Jack Raby walked and Paul Swinney followed with a monster double to the fence in right field to put two runners on. Tysen Turo followed with a single to center field, which brought home Raby. Two batters later, Curtis Otvos singled in Swinney to cut the lead to one run, 3-2. Mathis temporarily lost the zone, as he walked two straight batters, Aaron Toft and Henning, to push across the third run, which tied the score at three. Sueldo came into pitch for Mathis, who went 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits, four walks and struck out one. Sueldo did a great job in relief, as he also threw 2.2 innings and walked one, allowed no hits and struck out one. Kaden Coco came into relief with one out in the sixth inning and got the last five outs, as Woodcreek held on for a 4-3 victory. "Kudos to Lakeside, they're an amazing team and a great organization," Woodcreek Manager Scott Vaughan said. "It was a defensive battle again tonight with one run separating. Definitely the nerves were running wild. I think our boys came together as a team tonight more than they did last night. We started off with the lead and never took our foot off the gas. "Our outfielders and infielders stepped up and made clutch plays in clutch moments and that's what it's all about and that's how we play baseball." Lakeside played a good game, but came up one-run short. "It was a great game and I knew it would be a tough game," Lakeside Manager Mike Burton said. "Those guys are good competitors and they've got a really solid team. "I knew we could compete and I knew it would be a close game. I'm really proud what these guys did this season."