The only two City League teams remaining in State Tournaments faced each other Thursday afternoon at Bentley University in Waltham. West Roxbury upset #1 seeded Boston International 6-2 to advance to the Division 4 North Championship. That game will be played Sunday morning at 10:00 AM in Lowell, at Lelacheur Park, home of the Lowell Spinners.
The Raiders of West Roxbury grinded this game out. They worked counts, stole bases, turned double plays, and took advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Pitchers Alejandro Lopez and Christopher Moreta combined to keep B.I. limited to 6 hits. Lopez struck out 3 and didn't allow a runner past second base until the 6th inning. When Lopez ran out of gas, Moreta came in and finished the game, striking out a pair in the 7th.
Westie built their lead slowly but surely. In the 2nd inning Jan Pereyra reached on an error, was moved along by a Jean Done single, then knocked in by a single from junior Ruel Delarosa. In the bottom of the inning, a B.I. rally was stopped before it started when Done caught a liner in right-field and threw out Derlin Tejada at first for a double play.
The Raiders expanded their lead in the 4th. Done worked a leadoff walk, then stole second, and was knocked in by Cesar Garcia. Both Done and Garcia are freshman.
In the 5th Westie doubled their lead from 2-0 to 4-0 thanks to a 2-run double off the bat of Jan Pereyra. Then in the 6th catcher Brian Navarro hit an RBI single and eventually scored to put West Roxbury up 6-0. Navarro finished the day 3 for 4.
Boston International didn't get on the board until the 6th, when senior captain Nelfry Velez hit an RBI double. Derlin Tejada followed Velez and hit the ball hard, but right at Westie second baseman Steven Augusta, who caught the line drive then stepped on second to eliminate Velez and end B.I.'s chances for a big inning.
International added another run with 2 outs in the 7th. Angel Troncoso knocked in Frank Rosario with a triple, but it was too little too late.
Fortunately for Boston International, they have a talented young squad. They're only losing 2 seniors. Their roster is comprised mostly of sophomores and in the next few years B.I. could do some damage both in the City League and in State Tournaments.
West Roxbury advances to the D4 North Championship where they'll face Lowell Catholic. The game will be at a "neutral location," Lelacheur Park in Lowell, Sunday morning at 10.
Great job, well written.
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