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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/10/2023

Wow Factory fights to stay alive

Hannah Jo Groves     
Photo: Andy Espinoza/Caden Coleman (Perfect Game)
Tensions rose at JetBlue Park as Wow Factor Scout 14U fought for the 5-4 win over Dirtbags Scout Elite National Salazar 2027.

Wow Factor's defense was huge in the win led by the right-handed pitcher Andy Espinoza. Espinoza threw 92 pitches over five innings, striking out seven with a low-80s fastball - topping at 86 mph - along with a variety of high-60s off speed action. 



“He came in, we were down three and he gave us a chance," Wow Factor's head coach, Rafael Jiron said. "He’s our horse. Once he gets in there, he’s our workhorse.”

Wow Factor struck first, but the Dirtbags were quick to retaliate, putting four runs on the board in the top of the second inning. However, Wow Factor crept back to tie the game which stayed at 4-4 until the final out.

"We battled," Wow Factor's center fielder Caden Coleman said. "We were down by four - still came back - even through all the ‘rah-rah’ and the talking… it’s just great."

Coleman made sure his team stayed in the game in the bottom of the second - hitting a ground ball to right field for a two-run single.

"Before that at-bat, I knew [the pitcher] was a lefty and my dad always taught me - ‘lefty, you always go to right field,” Coleman said. “So, I saw the ball on the outside of the corner and I just took it there.”

Dirtbags' left-handed pitcher, Ayden Collier, made hitting difficult for Wow Factory, using mid-70s fastballs and mid-60s curveballs to strike out three in five innings over 83 pitches. 

Ultimately, the game-winning run came across when Wow Factor loaded the bases and Jovani Zara took a six-pitch walk with two outs. 

Wow Factory now faces Florida Burn 2027 Scout Team on Tuesday at JetBlue Park in the semifinal and battle between 7-0 teams.

"We’re gonna be playing a good team tomorrow - a really good team," Espinoza said. "We gotta bring the energy the whole game...We came all the way over here, so we just wanna give it all."
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