Wild pitch sends Torrance past Eau Claire in 10th 3-2
OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Torrance, California teammates converge on Matthew Gonzalez, center, after he scored the winning run on a wild pitch during the 10th inning of Game 5 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Sunday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown.
JAMESTOWN — Matt Gonzalez scored the winning run on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to send Torrance, California to a 3-2 victory over Eau Claire, Wisconsin in Game 5 of the Babe Ruth World Series on Sunday afternoon.
Gonzalez’s head-first slide into home plate set off a wild celebration by the Pacific Southwest Regional champions (1-0), who flirted with drama throughout the final four innings.
Trailing 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacob Faamasino doubled, Tadashi Tiomico singled and Anthony Guerra was intentionally walked. Jaiden Hasanuma then drove in Jay Flores, who was pinch-running for Faamasino, with a sacrifice fly to send the game into extra innings.
Both teams had scoring chances in extras — Eau Claire left the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, while Torrance stranded two in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth before finally pushing across the winning run in the 10th.
Gonzalez led off the decisive frame reaching on an error by losing pitcher Cameron Buchman. Kosei Magori followed with a successful sacrifice bunt and, after Nori Mori was intentionally walked and Aiden Boi was hit by a pitch, Noah Gomez came to the plate with a chance to win the game.
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But Buchman uncorked a wild pitch and Gonzalez raced home with the winning run in a game that featured outstanding pitching by both teams.
Eau Claire (1-1) opened the scoring in the top of the third on Tyler Barrows’ RBI single, and Torrance tied it in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder’s choice RBI by Gomez. Eau Claire pulled ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth when Blake Bugher singled, Buchman walked, Ethan Prell laid down a sacrifice bunt and Bugher scored on a wild pitch by Magori, who came on in relief of Torrance starter Ryan Torii, who worked the first 5 2/3 innings.
Eau Claire starter Aaron Gust pitched a gem, before giving way to Buchman after throwing seven innings.
Mori, Torrance’s Ron Tellefsen Most Outstanding Player, collected three hits and teammate Faamasino (double) added a pair.
Tellefsen Most Outstanding Player Tyler Barrows and Cashton Kainsz had two hits apiece for Eau Claire.





