Placentia 10-and-under all-stars capture Pony World Series tournament crown

Placentia’s all-stars pose for a picture after winning the Pony World Series. (Photos courtesy Placentia Pony Baseball, For OC Sports Zone)

The Placentia Pony 10-and-under all-stars came home with the Pony World Series title defeating Mexico 12-8 in the finals Monday night, capping an exciting four days in Youngsville, Louisiana for the players, coaches and their families.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

The Placentia squad advanced to the tournament after winning the West Zone championships.

The all-stars had to wait a little longer than they hoped to win the title.

The final game on Monday started approximately 30 minutes after game four, according to one of the team’s managers, Rene Ayala.

Placentia, the visiting team, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and added two more runs in the top of the second.

Then the rain came and put the teams in a one hour and 30 minute rain delay. Once play resumed Placentia added three more runs to take an 8-0 lead in the third inning.

Mexico battled back putting four runs in the fourth to make it a 8-4 contest. In the top of the fifth inning Placentia added another run to make it 9-4.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Mexico scored three runs to cut the lead to 9-7 going into the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning, Placentia scored three runs, capped by a 3-run home run by Tucker Hunnicutt to make it 12-7. In the bottom of sixth  Mexico was able to score one more run but John Burdge who had a come into pitch in the fifth inning, struck out the final two batters to end the game.

In the first game on Monday, it was another rematch with Chicago with the loser being eliminated from the tournament and the winner moving on to play Mexico for the championship.  Placentia defeated Chicago 5-1, led by starting pitcher Kemuel Zhang, who threw a six inning 65 pitch complete game.

Placentia had lost to Chicago on Sunday 4-2 in extra innings in another game that had a rain delay.

On Saturday, Placentia defeated Chicago 9-3 led by pitchers Bryan Serna, Kemuel Zhang and Tucker Hunnicutt. 

The first day of the tournament was Friday. The team attended a breakfast put on by the Youngsville Sports Complex. All the teams (Placentia, Texas, The Philippines, Bronx New York, Chicago, The Dominican Republic, Louisiana and Mexico) were on hand.

Placentia opened the tournament Friday night defeating the Phillipine Wildcats 12-2 in four innings.

“From the beginning to the end, it took the collective effort of not only 12 great baseball players but more importantly 12 outstanding kids to win the whole thing,” Ayala said. “Not enough can be said about the amazing parents and families that have supported this team since day one.”

Besides Rene Ayala, Kris Green, Eric Ayala, Matt Hunnicutt, Hugo Serna, Tello Ayala and team mom Julie Karg led the squad.

Members of the team were Darius Selway, Andrew Green, Mason Shackleton, John Burdge, Tucker Hunnicutt, Logan Fraser, Ty Ayala, Kemuel Zhang, Jacob Vasquez, Justin Karg, Logan Sylvester and Bryan Serna.