San Diego, California (Tecolote) is the 2019 Mustang-9 World Series Champion, following a 10-1 victory against Long Beach, California.
After finishing their semi-final game against Mexico in the morning and earning a one-run victory, Long Beach looked to keep that momentum going against Tecolote in the championship game. However, it was Tecolote that got the stronger start. The San Diegans shut out Long Beach in the top of the first inning before putting up four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Derek Swartz was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run before Nico Derkash scored on a wild pitch. Keith Clark’s single to right field brought Swartz home and Matthew Prior’s ground out to first base allowed Clark to score for a 4-0 lead.
Long Beach came out swinging in the top of the second inning, scoring on an error for their lone run of the game. San Diego held on to a 4-1 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Cole Miller’s triple to right field brought in another two runs for a 6-1 lead. A sacrifice bunt from Nico Derkash brought allowed Miller to score on the next at bat, and Clark’s single to center field brought Swartz in from third base for Tecolote’s eighth run.
The bottom of the fifth inning brought more runs for San Diego. Miller added a run on a single to right field, scoring Nolan Browne before Owen Garcia scored on a wild pitch for the game’s final run. After striking out two batters to end the top of the fifth inning, Miller pitched into three ground outs to secure the win for Tecolote in the top of the sixth inning.
Cole Miller finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs while Keith Clark went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Owen Garcia pitched 4.1 innings for Tecolote, striking out two and allowing eight hits and no earned runs while Miller finished with two strikeouts and no hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Cameron Powell was 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Long Beach offense while Alan Montes had the most success for the Long Beach pitching staff, finishing with a strikeout and four hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
With the win, San Diego kept an undefeated record, taking the 2019 Mustang-9 World Series Championship. Runners-up Long Beach posted an impressive 3-1 record in the tournament.