The pace was set early at the 12u Perfect Game Select Festival, with a grand slam from the East’s Julian Martinez giving his squad a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
From there, it seemed like the field at the East Cobb Complex just got smaller and smaller.
When the fireworks stopped, the West had come all the away back and came away with a 17-10 win to claim the 12u PG Select Fest. In total, 16 players notched at least one hit in the contest, with six home runs launched over the tall outfield fence.
After Martinez gave his team the big five-run lead in the first, the West squad scratched its way back into the ballgame immediately in the top of the second inning. Luke Esquivel and Kaleb Foster reached by way of base knock, and Adrian Villela walked to load the bases. Caleb Alexander then brought them all around to score on a three-run double.
Esquivel was 3-for-3 on the day with three runs scored and four RBI, while Alexander ended the day 2-for-3 with a run scored and seven total RBI. He added a big fly later in the game, as well.
The West squad scored five runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and seven in the seventh to reach their 17 run total and push the East past the point of a comeback. Hudson Brown registered a two-RBI single in the fifth to start the scoring in that frame, while Esquivel's towering two-run home run was the highlight of the inning.
Angel Gonzalez led off the seventh with a home run of his own to give the West a 11-10 lead, and ended up being the winning run of the contest. Esquivel again doubled home two in the seventh, and came around to score on Alexander's three-run bomb that officially ended any thought of a comeback.
Dru Wilson and Lucas Smith, hitting out of the two- and three-hole, respectively, also had base hits in the game for the West.
Although the West proved too much to handle for the East squad, they themselves proved they had plenty of talent on their roster.
Yomar Infante was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored for the East, while Jared Rivera and Trendyn Motley both were run-producers in addition to Santos and Scott.
Hitting fourth for the East, Jael Santos was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI thanks to a home run that left the yard in a hurry. Caden Scott added a home run and a walk as well, and nine total East hitters claimed a spot in the hit column.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow #PerfectGame on social media!
Twitter: / perfectgameusa
Instagram: / perfectgameusa
Tiktok: / perfectgame_usa
Facebook: / perfectgameusa