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Bulldogs slug way to final
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| Bulldogs' Jake Noud dives back to first base as Diamondbacks' Sam McKinnon tries to apply the tag during Wednesday's Tr-Cities game. (Roger Wilson/The Leader) |
MAJOR BASEBALL: 'Dogs defeat Diamondbacks, 10-3, but same teams will meet in title game.
By Jeff Tully
GLENDALE — Many of the players from the Burbank Bulldogs and Burbank Diamondbacks have known one another for most of their lives. Some are classmates and neighbors, while others have even been teammates.
When the teams met Wednesday in a semifinal game of the Tri-Cities District 16 Major Baseball semifinal game, the pressure associated with those ties adversely affected one squad, while the other seemed unfazed by the situation.
Although the Bulldogs fell behind early, they used two big innings to come back and defeat the Diamondbacks, 10-3, in a game at Babe Herman Field.
The win puts the Bulldogs — who are 3-0 in the tournament — into the tourney final at 6 p.m. Monday at Babe Herman.
It will be a rematch in the final, as the Diamondbacks staged a dramatic comeback Thursday in an elimination game to advance to Monday’s contest.
The Diamondbacks were down, 7-1, to Crescenta Valley Gangi Builders before rallying for a 9-8 win in the sixth inning.
Bulldogs Coach Jim Noud said his team — which defeated the Diamondbacks for the fourth time this season — was loose and focused for Wednesday’s game.
“I don’t think they were affected by playing the Diamondbacks,” Noud said of his team’s opponent from the Burbank Little League. “We knew it was important to win the game and get a little rest before we play again on Monday.”
The rivalry seemed to have the opposite affect on the Diamondbacks. Coach Jonathan Malden said his players have a history of playing poorly against the Bulldogs.
“We have been playing pretty good ball, and this is our first loss in the tournament,” he said. “We haven’t played this bad since the last time we played them. I think all the pressure just got to our team.”
With their best pitcher away at a baseball camp, the Bulldogs started Thomas Wilson. He was relieved in the fifth inning by Jake Noud, who hadn’t pitched much all season. The two combined to strikeout nine and scatter five hits.
The Diamondback took an early lead when they were able to push across two runs in the top of the first inning. After Aiden Anding led off the game with a single, he scored on an error on a Kevin Navarro grounder. A groundout by Joey Kuhn scored Navarro.
The Diamondbacks battled right back, however, scoring five runs in their half of the first.
Walks by Tanner Whitlock and Connor Lockheimer, a run-scoring groundout by Noud, a single by Wilson and a home run to right field by Fischer Cabot did most of the damage.
“When Fisher hit that home run, that’s when we knew that we had this thing going,” Jim Noud said.
The Bulldogs received a fine game from Randy Higgins, who was three for four with a double and two runs scored. Wilson was two for four and Danny Bustos was one for one with two walks.
The Bulldogs added a run in the second on an RBI-double by Wilson to take a 6-2 lead.
The Diamondbacks got a run back in the third when Anding scored on a wild pitch.
In their half of the third, the Bulldogs exploded for four more runs, aided by three errors. Higgins, Noud and Bustos had hits in the inning.
Anding was two for three with two runs scored and Navarro, Kuhn and Noah Brennan had singles for the Diamondbacks.
When the teams met Wednesday in a semifinal game of the Tri-Cities District 16 Major Baseball semifinal game, the pressure associated with those ties adversely affected one squad, while the other seemed unfazed by the situation.
Although the Bulldogs fell behind early, they used two big innings to come back and defeat the Diamondbacks, 10-3, in a game at Babe Herman Field.
The win puts the Bulldogs — who are 3-0 in the tournament — into the tourney final at 6 p.m. Monday at Babe Herman.
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The Diamondbacks were down, 7-1, to Crescenta Valley Gangi Builders before rallying for a 9-8 win in the sixth inning.
Bulldogs Coach Jim Noud said his team — which defeated the Diamondbacks for the fourth time this season — was loose and focused for Wednesday’s game.
“I don’t think they were affected by playing the Diamondbacks,” Noud said of his team’s opponent from the Burbank Little League. “We knew it was important to win the game and get a little rest before we play again on Monday.”
The rivalry seemed to have the opposite affect on the Diamondbacks. Coach Jonathan Malden said his players have a history of playing poorly against the Bulldogs.
“We have been playing pretty good ball, and this is our first loss in the tournament,” he said. “We haven’t played this bad since the last time we played them. I think all the pressure just got to our team.”
With their best pitcher away at a baseball camp, the Bulldogs started Thomas Wilson. He was relieved in the fifth inning by Jake Noud, who hadn’t pitched much all season. The two combined to strikeout nine and scatter five hits.
The Diamondback took an early lead when they were able to push across two runs in the top of the first inning. After Aiden Anding led off the game with a single, he scored on an error on a Kevin Navarro grounder. A groundout by Joey Kuhn scored Navarro.
The Diamondbacks battled right back, however, scoring five runs in their half of the first.
Walks by Tanner Whitlock and Connor Lockheimer, a run-scoring groundout by Noud, a single by Wilson and a home run to right field by Fischer Cabot did most of the damage.
“When Fisher hit that home run, that’s when we knew that we had this thing going,” Jim Noud said.
The Bulldogs received a fine game from Randy Higgins, who was three for four with a double and two runs scored. Wilson was two for four and Danny Bustos was one for one with two walks.
The Bulldogs added a run in the second on an RBI-double by Wilson to take a 6-2 lead.
The Diamondbacks got a run back in the third when Anding scored on a wild pitch.
In their half of the third, the Bulldogs exploded for four more runs, aided by three errors. Higgins, Noud and Bustos had hits in the inning.
Anding was two for three with two runs scored and Navarro, Kuhn and Noah Brennan had singles for the Diamondbacks.
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