YUBA CITY — A long postseason run for the Westshore Little League 8-10 baseball All-Stars ended with a 11-0 loss to Red Bluff in an elimination game Sunday night during the Northern California Region 2 Tournament at Yuba City.
A victory would have put Westshore into Monday’s championship game.
Westshore had to return to the field earlier than expected Sunday to complete its 12-9 come-from-behind win over Chico, a game that started Saturday night but was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning when the lights went out at the Yuba City field. Westshore was trailing 9-7 at the time but rallied Sunday for its second straight win in the loser’s bracket.
On Friday, Westshore defeated Susanville 10-1, bouncing back from a 7-2 loss to McKinleyville in opening-round action Thursday.
Red Bluff
Against Red Bluff, a game that followed just a couple of hours after its victory over Chico, Westshore trailed 1-0 until the top of the third inning when Red Bluff batted around and scored 10 times. The game was stopped after four innings.
While Red Bluff’s bats were red-hot, banging out 10 hits, three of its pitchers combined to no-hit the Westshore All-Stars, who had three runners reach base on walks.
Chase Allred, the first of three Westshore pitchers, took the loss. Tino Cruz and Shawn Rangel followed Allred to the mound, each throwing an inning.
Chico
In the win over Chico, Allred drove in what proved to be the winning run with a RBI double and Jorge Garcia homered, part of a 12-hit Westshore attack. Cruz and Rangel finished with three hits apiece and Allred had two.
Susanville
A two-run error by Susanville sparked a four-run Westshore top of the first inning. Westshore added three runs in the second, another in the third and two in the fourth to go up 10-0 before Susanville scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth.
Four Westshore pitchers combined on a six-hitter. Allred drew the start and went 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs and two hits while striking out two and walking one.
Cruz went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs to lead Westshore, which played a flawless game in the field.
Overall
The Westshore All-Stars went 6-2 overall during the postseason run, posting a 4-0 record and winning the District 2 championship prior to advancing to the Region 2 tournament.
