WILLCOX – The Douglas Junior All-Stars are headed back to the State Little League tournament for the second straight year making them the only team from Douglas to advance beyond the District 8 tournament this year.
 Douglas’ Junior All-Stars proudly show off their championship banner after winning the District 8 championship Monday night in Willcox. Douglas overcame an opening round loss to win five straight games two of which came Monday night when Douglas beat Rio Rico 4-3 and 13-3 in the if game. The Douglas All-Stars are coached by Eddie Hurtado, Paco Esquer, Shawn Leigh and George Watkins. Players are, in no particular order, Kirt Cormier. Michael Arzate, Grant Watkins, David Vasquez, David Hurtado, Bryan Lomeli, Alexio Esquer, Nick Ortega, Lupe Hurtado, Gabriel Melgoza, Hector Vasquez and Mark Romero. This is the second straight year the Junior All-Stars have won the District 8 title and qualified for the state tournament which begins next week in Peoria. |
Douglas won the first game 4-3 to force the if game which followed. Douglas used a seven run third inning rally which was highlighted by a Gabriel Melgoza grand slam to beat Rio Rico 13-3 in six innings claiming a second straight District 8 title while extending their winning streak to five straight games.
Douglas’ All-Star coach Eddie Hurtado said after the win Monday night his team had first game jitters against Rio Rico in the tournament opener and didn’t play well at all in game one.
In an elimination game with Willcox which followed two days later the team seemed to be more relaxed and the bats began to come around and the Douglas All-Stars beat Bisbee and Nogales on Saturday to get into the championship round on Monday.
Grant Watkins hit four home runs in those two games on Saturday.
In game one on Monday Rio Rico jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on Douglas. The junior all-stars rallied to tie the game at 3-3 and Hector Vasquez’ run in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the game winner as Douglas came away with a 4-3 win.
Kirt Cormier, throwing in his first game of the District 8 tournament, picked up a complete game victory overcoming a shaky first inning to follow with six innings of shutout ball.
The Douglas defense also assisted making some very impressive plays in both the infield and outfield.
In the if game Douglas led 1-0 when Watkins belted a solo home run to left field giving Douglas a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the third. Alexio Esquer followed with a two run double and Melgoza closed out the inning with his impressive grand slam to right center field.
Douglas led 8-0 when Rio Rico rallied for three straight runs making the score 8-3.
Douglas led 9-3 going into the bottom of the sixth when the local all-stars rallied for four runs – the game ending run when Cormier singled in Esquer from third forcing the game to be called on account of the 10-run mercy rule.
Melgoza was the winning pitcher this game.
The junior all-stars will now use the rest of this week to prepare for the District 8 state tournament in Peoria.
Douglas Little League officials say they do have the funds to send this group to state but that donations will gladly be accepted. Anyone interested in contributing may contact Coach Eddie Hurtado or any one of his assistants or any Douglas Little League board member or league president Bruce Whetten at Backdrop Photography.
Seniors
The Douglas Senior All-Stars fell 9-4 Saturday to Nogales in the District 8 championship game in Nogales.
Douglas was 2-2 in the tournament with both losses coming to Nogales while beating Sierra Vista twice.
In game one against Sierra Vista which Douglas won 8-6, Estevan Daniel hit 2-4,Aaron Acosta was 3-4,Miguel Romo 2-4, Jose Gonzalez 1-3, Luis Morales 1-2, Diego Resendiz 1-3 and Adrian Majalca was 1-2.
Majalca was the winning pitcher in relief Rufino Salinas and Victor Machado.
In game two Douglas fell to Nogales 4-2. Machado was the losing pitcher throwing in relief of Daniel.
Acosta hit 1-3, Romo was 2-4, Gonzalez. 1-3, Edgar Coronado 1-3, Majalca 1-3, Resendiz 1-1 and Salinas 1-2.
In the rematch with Sierra Vista Douglas cruised to a 16-5 win eliminating Sierra Vista.
Majalca was the winning pitcher this game. Daniel hit 4-4, Gonzalez, Machado and Morales each were 2 for 3, Coronado was 2-5 and Majalca 2 for 2.
In the championship game with Nogales Daniel took the loss in relief of Morales.
Daniel and Gonzalez each hit 2 for 4 this game while Romo was 1 for 2 and Machado 1 for 3.
Majors
The Douglas 11-12 year old all-stars were eliminated from their District 8 tournament in Nogales Monday following a 10-2 loss to Sierra Vista American.
Douglas was 3-2 in the tournament posting wins over Rio Rico, San Pedro and Sierra Vista National.
Sierra Vista American played Nogales Tuesday night for the District 8 title. Those results were not available at press time.
Nogales handed Douglas its first loss of the tournament winning 8-2 last Thursday.
10-11 all-stars
Douglas’ 10-11 year old all-stars struggled in their tournament which was held in Douglas.
Douglas lost to Nogales 12-2 and then dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to Rio Rico who hit a grand slam to win the game and eliminate Douglas with a 0-2 record.
Nogales went on to beat Rio Rico 10-0 for the District 8 championship.
Minors
At the District 8 minors’ tournament in Sierra Vista Rio Rico played Nogales Monday for that championship.
Douglas was eliminated after winning its first game in extra innings only to lose the next two.
The minor all-stars finished with a 1-2 record.
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