Zia forces deciding game in 10-11 tourney

The Clovis Zia League All-Stars jumped on top with a three-run second and never looked back en route to a 7-3 win over Roosevelt County on Friday night at Rotary Park in Portales, forcing a second championship game tonight in the three-team, double-elimination 10-11 District 3 tournament.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroClovis Zia's Josh Chavez slides safely into home with a fifth-inning run on a passed ball as Roosevelt County pitcher Jarett East is unable to handle the throw back to the plate in Friday's Little League 10-11 District 3 game at Rotary Park in Portales.

Zia, which lost earlier in the week to RC 10-2, will host the deciding tilt at 7 p.m. today at Beachum Field, with the winner advancing to state competition at Carlsbad beginning next Friday.

Nine players chipped in on Zia's 11-hit attack. Zia broke a scoreless tie in the second, getting two runs on errors and another on an RBI double by Noah Garcia.

Roosevelt County pulled to 3-1 in the third on a run-scoring single by Weston Whitecotton, and closed to 5-3 in the fifth when Whitecotton hit an RBI infield single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Zia, though, added insurance runs in the sixth when Malek Atkins hit a two-out RBI double and scored on a single by Daniel Moreno.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroClovis Zias pitcher Josh Chavez, left, and catcher Jacob Deleon celebrate after winning Friday's 10-11 District 3 Little League game over Roosevelt County at Rotary Park in Portales, forcing a second championship game tonight at Beachum Field in Clovis.

"We kind of challenged the kids, and they came through," Zia manager Dewey Patton said.

"Our pitching was enough for the win. (Roosevelt County has) a great team, and we were on pins and needles the whole time."

Dom Urioste, who pitched into the fifth inning, and Moreno each had a pair of hits for Zia. Garcia drove in a second run with a fourth-inning sacrifice fly, and John Chavez scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for a 5-1 lead.

Chavez pitched the final two innings for Zia, striking out the side to end it in the sixth.

Roosevelt County managed only four hits, with Whitecotton going 3-for-3 with a double.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroClovis Zia third baseman Simon Jackson tags out Roosevelt County's Trevor Whiting in the fourth inning of Friday's Little League 10-11 District 3 game at Rotary Park in Portales.

"I know our kids can play better than that," RC manager Larry Banda said. "I want them to keep their heads up and give (Zia) a better game tomorrow."

RC had opportunities to score in several innings, but couldn't come up with a key hit.

"We couldn't get any breaks," Banda said. "(But Zia) played hard, and it showed. I'm not taking anything (away) from them."

Little League

District 3 tournaments

Double-elimination

Senior Division

Saturday

Game 1: Quay County vs. Curry County, 2:30 p.m., Harris Field

Sunday

Championship

Game 2: Curry County vs. Quay County, 11 a.m., at Tucumcari

Game 3: Second championship game, if necessary, 2 p.m.

Majors Division (11-12)

July 5

Game 1: Zia 12, Quay County 0

Game 2: Roosevelt County 14, American 1

July 7

Game 3: Roosevelt County 8, Zia 2

Game 4: American 9, Quay County 2

Monday

Game 5: Zia 6, American 5, 7 innings

Wednesday

Championship

Game 6: Roosevelt County 12, Zia 2

10-11 Division

July 7

Game 1: Zia 25, Quay County 3

Monday

Game 2: Roosevelt County 10, Zia 2

Wednesday

Game 3: Zia 15, Quay County 0

Friday

Championship

Game 4: Zia 7, Roosevelt County 3

Saturday

Second championship game

Game 5: Roosevelt County at Zia, 7 p.m.

9-10 Division

July 6

Game 1: American 9, Roosevelt County 7

Game 2: Zia 24, Quay County 1

Sunday

Game 3: Zia 10, American 5

Game 4: Roosevelt County 17, Quay County 7

Tuesday

Game 5: American 17, Roosevelt County 8

Thursday

Championship

Game 6: Zia 15, American 5