The Dos Pueblos baseball team with its championship trophy in Arizona. (Karen Rohde Photo)
With help from Michael Spiritosanto’s epic performance throughout the week, the red-hot Dos Pueblos baseball team won the Chris Moon Memorial Tournament on Saturday by defeating Sabino High of Tucson, Ariz., 5-4 in an exciting comeback win.
The Chargers have been unstoppable, winning their 10rh straight game overall and going 5-0 in the 18-team tournament held in Tucson. Sabino High was on a 14 game-win streak.
Down 4-0 going into the fourth inning, DP began its comeback in the top of the fourth with a single from Spiritosanto, who was then driven in by a ground ball from Joe Diaz, cutting the lead to 4-1.
DP’s heroics began in what proved to be the game-changing 5th inning. Senior Steven Reveles hit a single, then stole second base. After a Joe Huthsing walk, Spiritosanto hit a game-changing three run homer to tie the game up at 4.
“Micheal has been clutch for us all tournament,” said coach Nate Mendoza. “The three run homer was unbelievable, given the situation that we were in.”
In the sixth, Reveles managed to get on base due to a Sabino error, stole his second base of the game, allowing Ben “Benny” York to deliver the clutch line drive single to right field to score the deciding run.
“I commend the kids on how they battled being down 4-0 against such a strong team like Sabino,” said Mendoza.
Colin Cole had his second start as pitcher for DP, giving up 6 hits and four runs, while striking out seven in only five innings. He improved his record to 2-0. Sophmore Gabe Speier finished off the game, pitching the final two innings, striking out three.
“For Colin to have seven strikeouts against a team like Sabino is unbelievable. He just went out there and got ahead of the count early. He kept us in the game through five,” said Mendoza. “And Gabe has a lot of experience. It definitely showed tonight.”
Spiritosanto dominated the tournament all week for the Chargers. In the five games, he batted .706 with 12 RBIs two home runs,seven runs scored, five doubles and one triple.
“We came here to represent Goleta and DP high school. We feel great coming out here and going 5-0,” said Mendoza.
With the win, Dos Pueblos moved to 10-2 overall as they head back home to play Oxnard, a CIF Division 1 team.
Unfortunately the Home was actually a foul ball –
Unfortunately the homerun was actually a foul ball – very disappointing umpiring. Final score should have been Sabino 4 – DP – 2
The ball was fair obviously or the umpire would not have called it that way. The ball was hooking, but it went right over the top of the foul poll, a homerun for sure just like it was called by the umpire on the foul line watching it. I talked with one of the Sabino coaches after the game and he was a class act, commending DP on their victroy and having such a solid team. You should take a cue from that coach and find some class instead of being a crybaby!