11 West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona, Friday, June 8, 2012
Local players help North to all-star win
by Mike Russo sports editor
The old baseball adage that good pitching will stop good hitting was proven Sunday night in the Division I all-star game at Surprise Stadium.
BASEBALL
Six North pitchers combined to limit the South to one run on two hits, while striking out 11, paving the way for an 8-1 victory. One of the happiest members of the victorious squad was Millennium coach Mike Jacobs, who assisted head coach Jeromie Spillman of Phoenix Maryvale. “It was nice to finally get a win, not only in this game
staff, Jacobs said. “We got dominating pitching,” Jacobs said. “We only
but on this field,” Jacobs said. “I came in here 0-3 on this field, counting the all-star games and last year’s playoffs.” Much of the credit for the win belonged to the pitching
gave up two hits and one unearned run, and our pitchers had a bunch of strikeouts.”
One of the outstanding North hurlers was Millennium’s Ruben Rincon, who pitched the fifth and sixth innings.
hits, walking a batter and striking out two. He was pleased with his outing. “I felt good out there,” Rincon said. “I was hitting my
spots.”
Rincon turned in two shutout innings, surrendering two
“Ruben did a great job,” Jacobs said. As well at Rincon pitched, he was outdone by Scottsdale Chaparral’s Tyger Talley, who earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award after pitching two hitless innings (the third and fourth) and striking out five of the six batters he faced. In addition to Rincon, contributing to the North victory were outfielder Shayne Miller of Westview and shortstop Eddie Villa of Tolleson. Villa smacked a third-inning leadoff triple down the
right-field line and scored what turned out to be the eventual winning run.
Although Miller did not get a hit, he drew a walk in his only plate appearance.
excited to play in this game.” “I was excited to play in this game, and we got the
View photo by Ray Thomas
EDDIE VILLA, Tolleson shortstop, leaps to spear a bouncing ball for the North during the Division I all-star game June 3 at Surprise Stadium. Villa tripled in the third inning and scored what turned out to be the winning run in an 8-1 North victory.
Local trio helps North to 10-6 win
by Mike Russo sports editor
A trio of players from West Valley high schools made solid contributions to a 10-6 North win in the Division II all-star game June 3 at Surprise Stadium. Playing for the victors were Cedric Rodriguez of Agua Fria and a pair of athletes from Verrado — outfielder Gian Mendoza and catcher Tyler Boxwell. “It was pretty cool,” Rodriguez said of playing in the game.
Rodriguez, who entered the game in left field for the final three innings, was hitless in two at-bats but came up with a defensive gem, throwing out Casa Grande’s Danny Vicari at home plate in the eighth inning. “It was a good throw,” Rodriguez said. “I got to the ball and he was right on third base, so I threw the ball home.” Mendoza and Boxwell started the game and combined to generate the North’s first run.
BASEBALL
Boxwell singled up the middle to open the bottom of the second. He advanced to second on a wild pitch that traveled only a short distance. “It was my opportunity to show that I’ve got a little better than catcher’s speed,” Boxwell said. “In high school they always used a courtesy runner for me.” Boxwell scored on Mendoza’s single up the middle.
(See Trio on Page 15)
The entire local contingent enjoyed the experience. “It was a good experience,” Rincon said. “I was real
win,” said Miller, who will play at Grand Canyon University next season. “Both coaches [Spillman and
(See Players on Page 12)
View photo by Ray Thomas
CEDRIC RODRIGUEZ of Agua Fria bats during the June 3 Division II all-star game at Surprise Stadium. Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats but he made an outstanind defensive play, throwing out a runner at the plate in the eighth inning to help preserve a North win.
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