FRANKLIN LOAN CENTER GAME OF THE WEEK: La Verne Looks Sharp in Sub-Divisional Opener
Jake San Miguel had a key two-run single to put La Verne up, 5-0 in the first inning, a lead it would never relinquish.
Playing on its biggest stage yet – the Sub-Divisionals – the La Verne Little League 11-year-old all-stars defeated Goleta Valley South 10-1, backed by an unbeatable combination of pitching, offense and defense.
Of the dozen hits that La Verne pounded out, half went for extra bases, including two homers by Anthony Cascarano, one by AJ Woodall and doubles by Kenji Henderson, Will Guerra and Cascarano.
In the first inning, La Verne played blitzkrieg baseball. After a lead-off single by Nick Peifer and a one-out single by Cascarano, Woodall lined a three-run homer over the left center field fence at Homer F. Briggs Memorial Park. Play in a park called “Homer,” and Woodall, no doubt, must have felt compelled to hit one.
After Graydon Smith lined to short, Nick Johnson walked and Henderson doubled, putting runners at second and third setting the table for Jake San Miguel, who singled them both home to put La Verne up 5-0.
Meanwhile, Woodall was again brilliant on the mound for La Verne, mixing in his off-speed pitches and his overpowering fastball to set down Goleta in order in the bottom of the first, including two punch-outs.
With the score still 5-0, La Verne erupted for three more runs in the top of the fourth. San Miguel walked to get things started. Guerra followed with a double down the left field line to place runners at second and third. Peifer singled home San Miguel for one run. Then after Guerra was picked off of third, Cascarano slugged a two-run home to give La Verne an insurmountable 8-0 lead.
In the sixth, La Verne tacked on two more runs on Cascarano’s second home run of the game and a ground-out by Nick Johnson driving in Woodall, who went four-for-four on the night, just missing hitting for the cycle with a pair of singles, a double and a home run.
After Woodall made an early exit on the mound — to save the star pitcher for Monday night’s game against Orange — Cascarano and then Johnson came on pitched just as well. In the bottom of the sixth, Goleta finally got on the board on a one-run double by Blake Katsey to drive in Ryan Guardino. Of Goleta’s four hits, Katsey had three of them, going three-for-three with a pair of doubles.
La Verne is back in action tonight at 8 p.m. to face Orange in what is expected to be a tough test for both teams.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
That’s my cousin, way to go La Verne, way to go Jake! Where can I get a jersey?