MALL stays undefeated with win

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera American’s Sammy Molina throws a pitch during a 10-0 victory over River Park to advance the 10-11-year-old All-Star team to the District 10 championship game on July 1.

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The Madera American 10-11-year-old All-Stars advanced to the District 10 championship game on Friday with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over River Park in the semifinals.

Madera American remained undefeated with the win Tuesday evening at River Park in the double elimination tournament.

Battery-mates Sammy Molina and Cayden Padilla tossed a combined four-inning no hitter. They walked three and struck out seven. The two pitchers didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield and only three players handled the outs (pitcher, catcher and first baseman- Lorenzo Belmontes).

Julian Ruiz led the seven-hit attack with a pair of singles and scored two runs. Molina hit a double and scored two runs. Ten of the Madera American batters either got a hit, scored a run or drove in a run.

Madera American got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Molina led off with a double off the centerfield fence. Belmontes was hit by a pitch. Padilla singled to right to load the bases.

Nick Hagopian forced out Padilla at second, but Molina came in to score while Belmontes took third. Gianni Salas grounded out, but Belmontes came in to score when River Park tried to catch Hagopian off of second base.

Madera American almost put the game away by sending 10 batters to the plate in the third.

Jorge Gonzalez started the rally with a walk and stole second. Ruiz reached on an infield single. Alejandro Barajas singled to left to drive in Gonzalez and advance Ruiz to third. Barajas took second on a throw to the plate.

Molina drew a walk to load the bases. Ruiz scored on a wild pitch and Belmontes drew a walk to load the bases, again.

Padilla drew the third straight walk of the inning to force in Barajas for a 5-0 lead.

After a change in pitchers, Jocelyn Castaneda singled up the middle to drive in Molina. Belmontes scored on a wild pitch to Gianni Salas. Salas grounded out, but Padilla came in to score with Castaneda advancing to third.

Gabriel Santiago grounded out, but Castaneda scored for a 9-0 lead.

Meanwhile, despite walking three batters, the Madera American pitchers were dominant.

Padilla walked the first batter of the fourth, but got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning.

Ruiz led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Barajas hit a ball to the shortstop and the shortstop threw to third to get Ruiz. However, Ruiz held up and both runners were safe. Molina was given an intentional walk to load the bases.

Two pitches later, Belmontes singled to left to drive in Ruiz for the game-ending run in the 10-0 victory.