Toros Take 16u Title Home
The Arizona Toros were crowned 16u Desert Invitational Champions after a stellar 3-0 run thru the playoff culminated in an 11-0 victory over the Arizona Prowlers in Sunday’s championship game.
The Toros, a mix of players from Tucson and El Paso, TX, ended their tournament run with a 5-1 mark, their only loss a 1-0 pitcher’s duel Saturday night to the Playa Vista Orioles.
In the playoffs, the Toros first dispatched Team Rawlings Elite 10-5, followed by a 4-2 win over Generals Baseball to give them a berth into the championship.
Once in the championship the Toros dominated from the get go, scoring seven runs in the top of the third innings, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and quickly putting the game out of reach.
Just as he did all tournament, MVP Alex Robles (2013, Tucson, AZ HS) led the way whether it was on the mound or at the plate. Robles finished the tournament with a 11 hits in 19 at bats, a .579 average to go along with nine runs scored, eight driven in to go along with a homerun. Robles also starred on the mound, throwing 8 1/3 innings allowing just two runs on seven hits for a 1.68 ERA while striking out seven. Robles was up to 86 mph on the mound.
Two other top offensive contributors for the Toros were OF Benjamin Bon (2014, Catalina Foothills HS, Tucson, AZ) who ended the tournament with a .353 average and four RBI and C Ruben Bracamontes who had seven RBI to go along with a .455 average.
MV Pitcher RHP Eder Erives (2013, Montwood HS, El Paso, TX) was up to 88 mph, the highest velocity of the tournament and also put up the impressive line of: 11 IP, 2 W, 4 H, 4 BB, 19 K including a win in the title game. RHP Martin Dicochea (2014, Tucson, AZ HS) is another pitcher that merits mentioning with eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings and consistent mid 80s velo.
Chandler Rangers Roll to Championship
Just a few offensive stats tell of the dominance that the Chandler Rangers showed over their three games. The team hit a combined .531 (34 hits in 64 at-bats), and in 80 plate appearances they struck out just four times.
They scored 12-0 victories in their first two games before a 7-2 win over the So Cal Outlaws in the 14u Championship. Their pitching staff was equally as dominant, allowing just a single earned run over their 15 innings on the mound. They struck out 17 batters with MV Pitcher LHP Tommy Martinez (2015, Mountain Pointe HS, Phoenix, AZ) striking out 7 in a complete game victory in the championship. Martinez was also impressive at the plate with a .500 average and four RBI.
MVP Dylan Cole (2016, Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, AZ) went to the plate nine times and was walked once and picked up seven hits for a .875 average and three RBI and six runs scored.
In the championship game the Rangers scored a pair of runs in first, added a single run in the second, and added four in the third to jump out to a 7-2 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.