Robinwood Little League's Junior All-Star team had its bid for the
2000 Sectional Tournament title come to an end in La Mirada, as the host
team, La Mirada, staged a late rally to escape with an 11-10 victory in a
controversial championship final that took two days to complete.
In the title game, which began Wednesday, Robinwood opened up a
commanding 9-4 lead, heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. It was
then that the game was halted because the lights at Behringer Park failed
to operate.
Under normal circumstances, Robinwood Manager Dave Brock said, the
game should have been declared over because five innings had been
completed. However, host La Mirada ruled that the game would continue
Thursday.
It did, and that's where the controversy ensued.
Robinwood's pitchers, who had been in complete control of the game,
suddenly couldn't buy a strike. Nick Cardona and Eric Oviatt walked home
four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring La Mirada within one
run. Danny Falkenstein, however, gave Robinwood added breathing room in
the top of the seventh with a solo home run to center field, upping the
lead to 10-8.
Needing just three outs to wrap up the title and move on to the next
tournament, Brock made a move to insert ace Adam Dedeaux, to finish the
game.
"Adam seemed to be throwing lightning bolts through the strike zone,"
Brock said. "However, he managed to just get an occasional, token strike
called. It was frustrating for the entire team."
Down two runs, La Mirada hitters took advantage of the take sign by
their coaches, and they managed to tie the score. Dedeaux had 22 balls
and just seven strikes called in the inning, which concluded a bases
loaded bunt bringing home the winning run for La Mirada.
The umpires, Brock said, were from District 29, of which La Mirada
resides.
"I believe that in a Sectional Tournament like this, the umpires
should be from an impartial district," Brock said. "It was really
frustrating for our guys, who were in complete control of this game. I
hope that an experience like this doesn't discourage any of these players
from baseball, or any other sport."
