Reds finesse their way to 6-3 win over Blues in 16th Whittier Rotary all-star baseball game


Staff photo by Keith Durflinger

By Red Williams, Correspondent
WHITTIER –
Finesse was an uncommon factor Wednesday night in the 16th annual Whittier Rotary All-Star Baseball game at York Field. But when it came, it was a welcome sight.
The Red team, made up of seniors from California, La Mirada, Montebello, Santa Fe, St. Paul and Whittier, rode a 3-run uprising in the second inning to knock off the Blue squad, 6-3. Seniors on the Blue team were from El Rancho, La Habra, La Serna, Pioneer, Schurr, Sonora and Whittier Christian. Some 650 were on hand for the contest.
The Reds took advantage of the lack of finesse in building up their lead, cashing in on a pair of Blues’ errors in that fateful second frame. Jose Romero of La Mirada led off the inning with a high chopper in the infield and legged it out for a single. Ali Anthony (also from La Mirada) followed with a ground single to right field. The ball squirted under the glove of the right fielder for an error, rolling all the way to the fence. Romero came home, and Anthony made it to third.
Bryce Brooks (Santa Fe) then singled through the hole, scoring Anthony. Another error, this on the Blues’ first baseman on a pick-off attempt, sent Brooks to second. He came home two batters later when Silver Sanchez got a sun-field double to left.
Anthony also showed some finesse as the Reds’ starter on the mound. He pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout and allowed just one ball to get out of the infield. He was named most valuable player for the Reds.
“It was cool,” Anthony said. “I’ve been working out on my own since the season finished to get ready for this game.” He said he’s still hoping to land a scholarship somewhere; if not, he’ll try to find a spot with a junior college squad.

The Reds had another spot of finesse: On defense. They made just one error, turned a pair of double-plays, and Romero made some dazzling plays at shortstop. Coach Pierre Romo (Santa Fe) also cited left fielder Brandon Fortenberry, who made a diving catch in the sixth to halt what could have been a big inning for the Blues.
“The kids came out strong early,” Romo said, “and finished strong. It was an honor to coach them. It think the blue team was hungry, as well, but had some problems at the start.”
“We came out a little jittery,” said Frank Llanes (El Rancho), coach of the Blues. “Those errors and unearned runs hurt. But the kids settled down and made it a good game. It thought the Red team stepped up, putting the bat on the ball, and their pitching was solid.”
In addition to the three-run rally in the second, the Reds plated a run in the first and third frames to build a 5-0 lead. Gilbert Medina (Santa Fe) singled in the first and scored one out later on a sacrifice fly by Jorge Zepeda (St. Paul). Kevin Romo got the other run for the Reds in the third, reaching on an infield single. Raymond Orozco got the RBI on a line single to left.
The Blues scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings. Daniel Balzano (La Serna) got them started, walking, moving up on a single by Mitchell Downing (Sonora) and scoring on a double play grounder by Jared Wight (La Serna). Downing also figured in on their third run with a sac fly, and his efforts earned the MVP award for the Blues.
Mark Sandison (Whittier Christian) tallied the other Blues run in the fourth. He led off the inning with a walk, stole second and scored two outs later on a single to center by Juan Aguilar (El Rancho).

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