Centerfield Royals step it up a notch

United States Travel Association (USTA) AZ Super State Baseball Championships

The 11-and-under Centerfield Royals decided to step it up a notch this weekend at the Mike Jacobs Sports Park Complex. My grandson, Jadon Price, and his teammates opened pool play this morning with back-to-back games against two 12-and-under ball clubs,the Tucson Angels from Continental Ranch and an all star team from Sahuarita, called Fuego. The Royals held their own, tying the Angels in the opener, 7-7, and winning 7-6 in the second game on a walk-off single by Fabian Ferreira. Two hard throwers went at it in Game 2, left hander Cole Martin for Fuego and Jimmy Riggin for the Royals. Both pitchers were clocked at 60+ in the first inning, but both were gone after three innings. EJ Galvez Jr. picked up the win in relief for the Royals, while another hard-thrower, Juan Ponce, took the loss for Fuego. Jadon and his teammates will enter single-elimination play tomorrow morning. They'll need to win three more games to take the tourney title.

Jadon footnote: Jadon walked three times, stole two bases, scored twice and made a nice relay from center field, which turned into an out at the plate.