Yucaipa claims Chino crown as T-Birds rally late

The game was well-played throughout, as the Cowboys and Thunderbirds combined for only three walks. But Chino made costly errors that would prove to be the difference.

Up 2-0 with one out in the fifth and runners on second and third, the Cowboys coaxed a sacrifice fly by Taijuan Walker to center. Chino conceded the run by Wilson Stewart from third base but tried to cut down Matt Marnati, who was attempting to advance to third.

Shortstop Ryan Perez's cutoff throw was wild, though, bouncing into the dugout, allowing Marnati to score the tying run.

Then, a wild throw by first baseman Jacob Anderson while attempting to gun down Meservey's stolen-base attempt in the eighth went into center field, allowing the catcher to move to third with one out.

"In our scouting, we noticed that (Cordova) tended to hang on to the ball for a long time in his delivery," Stout said. "Cody is one of our fastest players, and we figured we'd send him on a pickoff steal and make them play catch under pressure."

Meservey scored when Seymour - who just missed a squeeze bunt attempt two pitches earlier - hit a soft grounder toward third. The ball was fielded cleanly but Meservey beat the throw home.

"It's tough to lose in the final inning again," Chino coach Bob Sheehan said. "We walked home the last run (Thursday), so I guess this is better. I'm proud of the way my team's competitiveness and the way they fought against a very good team."

The Cowboys got to Yucaipa starter Frankie Martin early, getting six early base hits. Those hits turned into runs in the third, as Kevin Johnson tripled to knock in Dominic Reyna - who singled to lead off the inning - and Perez knocked in Johnson with a single.

Stewart and Marnati started that rally with consecutive one-out singles, advancing to third and second, respectively, on a Franklin wild pitch before scoring on Walker's sacrifice fly and the ensuing error.

"Kevin swung the bat really well (Thursday), so we moved him up in the order," Sheehan said. "He got us off to a good start."

Martin settled down after the third, though, retiring 12 straight batters after Perez's RBI single. That allowed the Thunderbirds to finally get Chino starter J.J. Franklin - who was voted the most valuable pitcher in the tournament - with the two fifth-inning runs.

Matt Davidson - who went 3-for-3 with two doubles and was voted the tournament's most valuable hitter - relieved Martin in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning to get the victory.

YUCAIPA BATTING: Matt Davidson 3-3, 2 doubles; Todd Seymour 2-3, RBI; Cody Meservey 2-4, run scored; Matt Marnati 1-4, run scored; Wilson Stewart 2-3, run scored; Taijuan Walker 1-3, RBI.

YUCAIPA PITCHING: Frankie Martin (2-0) 7 innings, 2 earned runs, 8 strikeouts; Matt Davidson (2-0, 1 save) 1 inning, no runs allowed, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.

Yucaipa now embarks on an ambitious tournament schedule. From April 1- 4 the Thunderbirds will be playing in the Memphis, TN Tournament, and from April 7 - 9 they will be in the San Diego Lions tournament. Yucaipa returns to Citrus Belt League play on April 14 in a 3:15 home game with the Redlands Terriers.

Story written by T.J. Berka, Friday, March 27.