The Pepsi Diamondbacks win Mt. Graham Little League ‘Majors’ Championship

Photo By Scott Bennett: The Pepsi Diamondbacks celebrate winning the Little League ‘Majors’ division with a 2-1 victory over Reliant Realty.

The Mt. Graham Little League “Majors” crowned their champion Wednesday night after a snake duel that saw the Pepsi Diamondbacks come out on top of the Reliant Reality Diamondbacks 2 – 1. In the pitcher’s battle that was not decided until the bottom of the final inning, all of the players involved proved that they are winners at heart.  

Photo By Scott Bennett: Assistant coach Craig Smith hoists the championship trophy.

The contest saw No. 1-seed Pepsi coached by James Maldonado and Craig Smith taking on the No. 2-seed Reliant Reality team coached by Mark Johnson and Justin Echols. The two teams clearly belonged in the championship as they both easily moved through the playoffs. Reliant Reality handed the Pepsi squad its only loss of the regular season, and proved to be the only team that could beat Pepsi. It was clear early on that these two teams were the class of the league and would likely face each other in the championship game.  

The game was a true pitcher’s duel remaining scoreless through the first three innings. Few Pepsi hitters could put the ball in play against the Reliant Reality’s pitcher, Johnson.  The bats finally warmed up for Pepsi in the third inning when Tade Olson singled. Once Pepsi started touching Johnson’s offerings, they were able to sneak a run across in the fourth to take the 1 – 0 lead.  

Marcus Carrasco, who pitched for Pepsi, was equally dominating, pitching scoreless ball until the top of the sixth inning when Reliant Reality scored. After two walks and a stolen base put a runner on third, Carrasco stuck out the batter, but the ball skipped away from the catcher.  With the dropped pitch, the batter advanced to first. In a brilliant move by the Pepsi catcher Royal Smith, he conceded the runner reaching first in an attempt to prevent the runner on third from scoring.  Unfortunately, the Reliant Reality runner worked his way out of the hot box and snuck in home before the tag, tying the game at 1.   

With the score tied at one in the top of the sixth, Coach Maldonado pulled Carrasco as he hit his allowable pitch count. He then called upon Darren Maldonado to close out the inning. Maldonado came in and stuck out the next two batters ending the Reliant Reality threat. The teams went in to the bottom of the sixth knotted up at one.  

The bats got hot for Pepsi in the sixth. After Aidan Bermudez drew a walk for Pepsi, coming back from a 0-2 count, two consecutive Pepsi hits moved him to third. Pepsi had the bases loaded with no one out and was smelling the win. Facing the bases-loaded jam, a Reliant Reality pitch got away and Bermudez stole home, winning the game and the championship for Pepsi. 

Photo By Scott Bennett: Both teams gather for a picture after the game.

After the game, Pepsi assistant coach Craig Smith said, “This was an absolute pitcher’s duel, 2-1.  It came down to we got a break at the end and we scored as the home team.  Credit to the Johnson kid from Reliant Reality and Marcus Carrasco on our team, they were the two best pitchers of the game.  These are the two best teams in the league no doubt. They were our only loss during the regular season.  It was an exciting close game, a nail bitter, but we were lucky to come out on the right end of it.”

In speaking about his team, head coach James Maldonado said, “That game was awesome! It was a hard fought game all the way through. It was a pitcher’s duel from the start to the end. We got the luckier bounces and we were able to pull it out.”  Maldonado went on to explain how proud he was of the boys and all the hard work they have put in to the season. 

The Championship game concluded with the awarding of the trophies, as the sponsor takes the championship trophy, as well as an individual trophy for each boy.  While the season is over, several players have been invited to try out for the Mt Graham traveling All Star team. Tryouts will take place Tuesday, May 28, at the Graham County Fairgrounds.