Los Alamitos — Los Al Pony All Stars (2-0) pitcher Cody Griffith closed out a 7-6 victory over West Garden Grove All Stars (0-1) Tuesday with three back-to-back strikeouts. Los Al remains undefeated going into their third game of the Los Alamitos Youth Baseball Invitational Tournament.
Garden Grove opened up the score after two quick runs in the first inning gave them the early lead. Los Alamitos surged back in the second inning after a big hit to right field by Griffith allowed Spencer Grimes to score. Griffith evened the score in the very next play after Garden Grove fumbled a catch at third base.
Los Al continued applying pressure scoring three runs in the third inning. A big hit to center field from Drew Graham allowed a runner on third to score. Later, Jackson Wells’ ground ball to left field gets by the Garden Grove third baseman allowing two runners to score.
However, the All stars from Garden Grove never let their morale falter and kept fighting until the end. As Los Al let off the pressure late in the game, Garden Grove came back to score four runs in the fifth inning.
Garden Grove’s Jack Vanderhill opened up the scoring in the fifth after getting on base. Next, Joey Gallo powered one into deep center field allowing two runners to score and got himself on third base.
Bubba Wolsky stepped up next and allowed Gallo to score with a deep hit to right field. Garden Grove was suddenly in the lead.
Los Alamitos dusted themselves off and finished the final inning strong. Edging two runs in at the top of the sixth inning was enough for Los Al to hold off Garden Grove.
With the game on the line Griffith started throwing heaters in the bottom of the sixth. He lets one runner on base, but then goes and strikes the next two batters out.
Daniel Quintana stepped up last for Garden Grove with no runners on and only one out left. With his coach shouting “watch for the curveball, wait for it,” it looked like a big play was coming.
But, Griffith kept his cool and threw three fiery pitches to strike Quintana out to end the game 7-6 in Los Al’s favor.
Los Al’s next game is on Thursday against Irvine All Stars at 5pm. Garden Grove’s next game is also Thursday against Fountain Valley All Stars at 7:30 pm. The Invitational’s championship game is on Sunday at 12:45pm.
