RBI Austin overcomes early deficit with 9-run 4th inning

Friday morning’s opening game in the 18U Southwest Regional Tournament pitted host RBI Austin against the Astros RBI. RBI Austin is the defending regional champion. Prior to 2018, Astros RBI had won 10 of the last 11 regional titles.

The game therefore could be characterized as a clash of titans.

Early in the game, it seemed like it was destined to be a heavyweight fight. After the Astros took an early 1-0 lead in bottom of the first off RBI Austin starter, McCallum’s own Marc Juarez, RBI Austin tied the game when Dave Wilson’s RBI triple brought home Nico Romero who had reached on an infield single.

McCallum senior outfielder Jacob Castillo flirted with a home run that would have made it 3-1. Depending on which observer you asked, his blast to left field either hit high on the foul pole or just missed hitting it. It was ruled a foul ball, and host RBI Austin settled instead for a 2-1 lead on Castillo’s RBI sacrifice fly to left field.

But the Astros answered RBI Austin’s third-inning duece with one of their own to regain the lead at 3-2.

After that point, however, RBI Austin delivered the ultimate knockout combination, with a nine-run fourth and a two-run fifth that decided the game’s outcome. Victor Mendoza’s RBI single tied the game at 3. Wilson’s RBI single brought home Mendoza to make it 4-3, and the carousel kept spinning for the host team from there.

Starter Juarez, who worked the first two innings was relieved by Skylar Valdez, who worked two scoreless innings. Josh Cardenas closed the game for RBI Austin. Despite the decisive victory, Juarez said after the game that RBI Austin has much respect for the Astros and would not be surprised if the two teams face each other in a rematch for the championship 11 a.m. Sunday at Dell Diamond.