Robinwood’s run ends

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.”