The Turlock American Little League Yankees are the 2015 Tournament of Champion winners.
After a regular season sweep for the top Majors team in the area, the Yanks surpassed expectations after falling in the opening contest to Atwater and into the loser's bracket.
Up against the wall with one game from the brink of elimination, the Yankees settled and were able to rally with their depth, winning three straight as they took down the Atwater Reds, 7-5, at Soderquist field on Saturday.
“We were just happy for the kids, because they worked real hard for it especially after going down to the loser's bracket and fighting our way out,” said Yankees head coach Cory Ridriguez. “It was eventually four days and our pitching really helped us out. We have a lot of it and we got to use it.”
The Yankees depth at pitching was nearly flawless with over five solid starters in the lineup.
Saturday's starter was Landon Magina, and the Yank didn't let down.
Magina went 4 and 2/3 innings, while allowing only two earned runs in the process.
It was enough for the powerful offense that has kept their consistency over the four-day period as the Yankees went up early in the first inning after capitalizing on five runs.
Dominic Rodriguez did what he has all season long as he started off the first inning rally with an RBI double to notch up the first run.
Magina followed with a two-run single and after a double steal attempt, the Atwater Reds committed an error and allowed two more runs to cross the plate and the Yanks went up 5-0.
“It was relaxing and nice to have a lead at that point, not gonna lie,” said Rodriguez.
Just before checking in to relieve Magina of the pitching duties, Cooper Carr blasted a solo homer and put the Yankees up by five runs at 7-2.
With the tying run at home, two on and two outs, Carr was able to get out of the inning as he forced a throw out at third base and the Yankees captured the TOC title.
“Cooper [Carr] was pitching when we lost to Atwater last time so for him to come back and get the save this time, was pretty neat. It was cool for Cooper,” said Rodriguez.
At least six of the nine starters got at least one hit for the game.
The 10-12 year-old All-Star teams will begin practice next week and the first games are scheduled for June 29 with the times yet to be determined at the Atwater Little League fields.