Peabody’s run ends in a California daze
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- For the 48 hours following Friday night’s 10-1 loss to San Antonio in the Little League World Series, Peabody Western manager David Batchelor had been contemplating whom to start on the hill last night against Chula Vista, Calif.
Reason said to give the ball to No. 2 starter and fireballer Matt Hosman. But with Chula Vista blasting Russellville (Ky.), 15-0, Saturday, there was a chance lefty and fan favorite Matt Correale might get the nod.
Batchelor went with Hosman, who in turn gave the California powerhouse all it could handle -- for 4 2/3 innings. Hosman left after reaching the pitch count limit (85) with Peabody trailing, 2-0. Chula Vista then exploded for 12 runs in the sixth inning to win, 14-0, and improve to 2-0 in Pool B play.
With the loss, Peabody (0-2) has no chance to advance. San Antonio (2-0) defeated Russellville in the afternoon, 12-0, to join Chula Vista in the next round. Peabody will face Russellville tomorrow.
In Peabody’s case, it will be a matter of trying to come home with a win. Batchelor’s son, Austin, will get his second start of the Series tomorrow.
“I said to them, ‘Let’s go out there and have some fun,’ ’’ Batchelor said. “We’re in the World Series. Not too many kids get to play in the World Series, so let’s get some at-bats, go up there and try to get a hit.’’
Hosman kept Chula Vista off balance by keeping it simple, mostly hurling fastballs. He struck out 10, walked two, gave up three hits, and allowed one earned run.
That included two strikeouts of 6-foot-2-inch slugger Luke Ramirez, who finished 0 for 2 after going 4 for 4 with two homers and four RBIs against Russellville.
“Matt’s been our 1-A, I guess, the whole season,’’ Batchelor said. “He deserved a chance. He throws hard. I saw [Chula Vista] play [Saturday] night. They hit the ball well, but Matty throws a little faster than what they faced [Saturday], so I thought maybe he could do what he did -- throw the ball by them for a while -- and that’s what he did.”
Chula Vista squeezed two runs off Hosman. Oscar Castro (3-3, two runs) led off the bottom of the second with a double. Two at-bats later, he scored when a hit by Seth Godfrey (2-4, solo HR, 3 RBIs) was misplayed.
Godfrey then led off the fifth by taking a 1-1 fastball deep to center field, over the walkway, for a 2-0 lead. After Hosman left, Chula Vista unloaded with 12 runs in the sixth, including two home runs by Andy Rios and a two-run double by Godfrey.
Peabody had several chances to score, putting players in scoring position in the third and fourth innings, but couldn’t find crack Chula Vista’s defense.
Peabody flashed some leather of its own, the most impressive play being Austin Batchelor’s diving catch of a Bradley Roberto fly to shallow left-center in the third, ending the inning.
“We were all pumped up,’’ Batchelor said of his son’s catch. “We were all excited for him, that was a real nice play.’’
Chula Vista, after outscoring the opposition, 98-15, in the West Regional, has beaten its first two opponents here, 29-0.
