The Daily Dispatch

Douglas’ Jason Sanez does a head first slide into third base in the bottom of the fourth inning of Douglas’ game with Sierra Vista Tuesday in the 13-14 year old tournament. Douglas won the game 9-5 and will now play Thursday at 5 p.m. against the winner of tonight’s game between Rio Rico and Nogales.

District 8 All-Star play got underway Tuesday at four separate locations in southern Arizona.

In Douglas the 13-14 year old all-stars won their first round game beating Sierra Vista’s all-stars 9-5 at Copper King Stadium.

Xavier Altamirano was the winning pitcher giving up one hit while striking out seven in five innings on the hill. Altamirano was pulled from the game after reaching his 95 limit pitch count as set by Little League.

Samuel Wright and Esteban Daniel threw in relief. All three pitchers combined to give up five runs off four hits.

Douglas used a two run first and a two run second to take a 4-0 lead.

Altamirano walked the first batter of the fifth before leaving the game. That walk would eventually score as Sierra Vista rallied for three runs pulling within one at 4-3.

Sierra Vista would lose its pitcher, Seth Martinez, due to the pitch limit and Douglas took advantage of the relievers rallying for five runs in the bottom of the sixth taking a 4-3 lead and increasing it to 9-3.

Sierra Vista closed out with two runs in the top of the seventh.

Gabriel Ortega and Fernando Rojas each hit 2 for 2 for Douglas while Christian Dorame was 1 for 2 and Rufino Salinas 1 for 1.

Douglas’ all-star coach Eliseo Daniel said the bottom half of his line up had five of Douglas’ six hits and that all the runs were either scored on errors or a fielder's choice.

The coach said his team came out strong and both pitchers were really throwing well.

Daniel admitted the mandated pitch count took which forced him to pull Altamirano stopped Douglas’ momentum until Sierra Vista was able to pull its pitcher.

The coach said his team ran the bases well and was able to get into scoring position numerous times taking advantage of the Sierra Vista miscues.

Douglas will play Thursday at 5 p.m. against the winner of today’s Rio Rico vs. Nogales game.

In Nogales the 9-10 year old all-stars were defeated 15-5 by the Nogales all-stars.

Douglas took a brief 2-0 lead only to see Nogales score three times in the bottom half of the inning to go ahead 3-2.

Douglas regained the lead at 4-3 in the top of the second scoring two more runs.

Nogales took the lead for good in the third with a five run rally which was followed by seven more in the fourth.

Alexis Selig started the game on the hill for Douglas and went three innings. Francisco Pelayo threw one inning in relief.

Selig, Pelayo and Jayson Esquer each hit 1 for 2 for Douglas while Jacob Ortega was 2 for 3.  Francisco Romero hit 1 for 1.

Douglas’ all-star coach Johnny Pedrego said nerves and numerous walks played a factor in the game Tuesday.

The 9-10 year old all-stars will play Bisbee tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Nogales in an elimination game.

In Sierra Vista rain delayed the start of the 11-12 year old all-star tournament for over an hour.

Douglas’ game with Sierra Vista American, which was scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., began shortly before 7. Rain continued to fall throughout the game.

Douglas' pitcher David Hurtado had a perfect game going into the last inning when he walked three and gave up a run before securing the final out giving Douglas an 6-1 win over Sierra Vista American.

Hurtado would finish the night giving up one run off one hit while fanning 12 and walking three.

Douglas scored once in the first inning, four in the third and one in the fifth jumping out to a 6-0 lead.

Kirt Cormier hit 3 for 3 for Douglas, Alexis Munoz was 2 for 3 with a triple, Robbie Romero 1 for 1, Victor Campoy 1 for 1 and Hurtado and Leo Montano each were 1 for 3.

Douglas' 11-12 year old all-star coach Gus Hurtado said the rain delay threw his kids off and it took them several innings to get going.

"They showed up ready to play," he said. "They were ready to go. … During the delay we tried to keep them busy throwing wiffle balls at them."

The coach added Hurtado threw a heck of a game and did a good job of keeping Sierra Vista American's hitters off balance.

Douglas is back in action tonight at 8 p.m. taking on Rio Rico, 10-0 winners over Willcox.

Tonight's game is weather permitting.

In Rio Rico Douglas' 10-11 year old all-stars beat Rio Rico 13-2 in the opening game.

Douglas used a six run first inning rally and a seven run third to jump out to a 13-0 lead.

Rio Rico scored its two runs in the bottom half of the fourth.

Jose Aristiga was the winning pitcher throwing two and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball giving up no walks while fanning seven. Aristiga had to leave the game after reaching his pitch count limit. Oziel Aleman and Sergio Valenzuela each threw to close out the game.

Sergio Valenzuela, Oziel Aleman and Pablo Othon each hit 2 for 3 for Douglas while Raul Montano was 1 for 1, Blaze Rose and Ricky Vega each were 1 for 2 and Aristiga 1 for 3.

Douglas’ all-star coach David Rose said his kids began the game swinging the bats well.

“Aristiga came out strong by throwing first pitch strikes, holding their batters down,” he said. “All of the kids were aggressive and remained focused throughout the game.”

Douglas is back in action tonight taking on Bisbee at 5 p.m. in Rio Rico.

All-Star play continues through next week.