It's rare when a baseball game comes down to the final minutes. But that's exactly what happened as Ridgecrest, Calif., edged past Vacaville, Calif., 2-1, during the USABA World Series at Governor's Field.
USABA rules state that if a game is tied after seven innings, then the two teams play until the two hour, ten minute time limit expires. And if the game is tied after that, each team receives half a point.
With two outs in the bottom of ninth, and three minutes left on the game clock, Roberto Saenz hit a game winning single to score Dwayne Clark. The win gave the High Desert Dawgs a full point, instead of settling for half a point.
"I just wanted the game to end," said Saenz, who had a chance to win the game in the seventh but struck out. "I had my chance in the seventh but came up short. I just wanted to help our team get the win," Saenz said.
The Dawgs' J.D. Martin, who had a perfect game until the fifth, finished with 16 strikeouts.
"I didn't really have my fastball today, so I was just trying to hit my spots," said Martin, who struck out several hitters with his wicked curveball. "It's definitely good to get the first win since we really didn't hit the ball that well today."
Ridgecrest plays at noon today in the first game of a doubleheader against Arlington, Texas. They play again at 2:30 p.m. against four-time USABA champs Triple Play, Wash.
Desert Division
Yosemite, Calif. 13, Mammoth, Calif. 8
The Colts (1-1) made the day's biggest comeback against the Dragons (0-2) when they used a seven-run fifth to take a 8-7 lead. The Colts then scored four more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
The Colts play today against the Carson Valley Cobras at noon, while the Dragons play a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. against the Carson City Cardinals.
Pierce County, Wash. 9, Mammoth, Calif. 5
The Dragons (0-2) were up 3-2 before the Saints (1-1) scored four in the second to make the score 6-3.
The Dragons got within 7-5 before the Saints added two more runs in the fifth that finished the scoring.
The Saints play a doubleheader today starting at 9: 30 a.m. against the Cardinals.
WEST Oahu, Hawaii 8,
Yosemite, Calif. 4
Down 4-0 in the fourth, W. Oahu (1-1) scored six runs in the inning and grabbed the lead for against the Colts (1-1).
W. Oahu then scored two more insurance runs in the fifth to end the scoring at 8-4.
W. Oahu next game is tonight at 7:30 against the Mammoth Dragons.
Mountain Division
Fresno, Calif. 8,
Vacaville, Calif., 3
Central Cal baseball (2-0) handed the Blue Sox (0-2) their second dissappointing loss of the day when they used a five-run seventh to break the game open after being tied 3-3.
Central Cal next plays the Arlington Apaches today at 9 a.m.
Fresno, Calif. 7,
Santa Clara, Calif. 3
Central Cal (2-0) scored two runs in the first and another in the second as they cruised to a victory over the Dodgers (0-2).
The Dodgers got within 5-3 before Central Cal scored two runs in the fifth to finish the scoring.
The Dodgers play tonight against the Vacaville Blue Sox at 7:30 p.m.
Triple Play, Wash. 13,
Santa Clara, Calif. 10
The Hornets (1-0) scored three-runs in the fourth to take an 8-6 lead and never looked back as they topped the Dodgers (0-2).
The Hornets next game is today at 12 p.m. against the High Desert Dawgs.
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