GAINEY CERAMICS GAME OF THE WEEK: La Verne Claws South Pasadena Tigers, 18-8

Jared Sarslow delivered early for La Verne.

On a balmy Monday night in Ontario, La Verne’s 11-year-old Little League All Stars made it clear they want another crack at Upland Foothill, and they’ll get that chance this evening after defeating the South Pasadena Tigers 18-8.

After Tanner Siffert doubled leading off the game for La Verne, Jared Sarslow cashed him in with a solid single staking La Verne to an early 1-0 lead. South Pasadena, however, hung up five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to lead 5-1.

“I told Tanner (starting pitcher for La Verne) we’d come back, and we did,” said La Verne Manager Mike Kurnick.

Not even Kurnick could have predicted what happened next. His boys responded with six runs in the second, seven runs in the third and four runs in the fourth. When the barrage was over, La Verne had banged out 13 hits and five fence-tattooing doubles. Doubling for La Verne were Siffert, Joe DeFina, Nolan O’ Laughlin, Ben Wolfe, and Matt Kurnik. Siffert and Tommy Delgado led the hit parade with three hits apiece.

“We showed we’re capable of battling back,” Kurnick said. “It was an excellent team win.”

After a rocky start, La Verne’s pitching staff also clutched up. O’ Laughlin, DeFina, Nick Litwin and Luke Russell showed great command on the hill. In the third, DeFina called on his blazing fastball to strike out the side. O’ Laughlin also struck out three batters in his short stint.

La Verne will need all those performances and more if it is going to turn the tables on Upland Foothill, which upended La Verne 10-8 in the teams’ first meeting on Sunday.

Tonight’s championship game begins at 7 p.m. at the home of the Ontario Western Little League at Pioneer Park in Ontario.

Check out Gainey Ceramics’ new retail store at its headquarters at 1200 Arrow Highway in La Verne.  It’s a one-of-a-kind shopping experience inside the last remaining original handcrafted ceramic factory in California. For more info, visit its web site at www.gaineyceramics.com  or www.gaineystore.com.