Pinal Mountain Little League baseball All-Stars win district championship titles 9-10 All-Stars defeat Safford

Fil Butierez/ Arizona Silver Belt Team members of the PMLL 9-10 boys All-Stars are: Christopher Alonzo, Jacob Downey, Matheu Escobedo, Brynan Gilmore, Jayden Goss, Austin Higginbotham, David Hurst, Luke Olvera, Jacob Sukosky, Ryan Powell, Conrad Salcido, and Patrick Tarango. The team is coached by Bobby Powell.

Hayden — On Saturday the boys of the Pinal Mountain Little League All Stars team, ages 9-10, took the field in Hayden against the All Star team from Safford for the championship game.

Despite the heat and the unfamiliar field, the boys came and delivered yet another exciting and action-packed game.

The stands were packed with parents setting up canopies for shade and other loyal fans, something not uncommon for the boys of the Little League.

Matheu Escobedo was first to pitch, immediately striking out a few of Safford’s starting lineup. After Pinal Mountain came to bat, they managed to score the first run of the game. Safford pressed hard at the boys’ defense, however, they were able to hold the lead until the middle of the second, when Safford scored their first run.

The boys answered back fast in the third inning, knocking out an RBI double to put them back in the lead. In the bottom of the fourth, coach Bobby Powell switched pitchers, putting in Jayden Goss for the rest of the game.

When all was done, Pinal Mountain was again victorious with a score of 7-5.

After Coach Powell spoke to the team, he took a moment to tell the Silver Belt: “It’s a really great win. The boys have been working hard for this and look what they’ve won now. As 9-10 year olds its good to see them winning the championship. They really deserve it.”

The boys will play again on July 19 in Show Low at 1 p.m.