MURRAY — Taylorsville just can't get untracked in the Babe Ruth World Series. Last night at Ken Price Park, T-ville went down 13-4 to Tri-Valley, Calif., and suffered its third straight defeat in the tournament.
"That is a very good team," manager Chet Nicholls said. "(But) we are having trouble with defensive errors. We have been taking innings off. And when you do that, trouble can happen."
Kenny Atwood led the hitting attack, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Centerfielder Cameron Hansen knocked out two hits in three trips to the plate and drove in two runs.
Tri-Valley's Sam Nathan blasted the first home run of the tournament and also collected a double and a triple along with a walk. He was at the plate in the top of the seventh inning looking to hit for the cycle when his teammate was picked off at first, ending that inning and dashing his hopes.
On Sunday, Taylorsville lost 6-2 and their pool record now stands at 0-3. In that game, Hunter Smith was the hitting hero, but Nicholls laments that his players just can't get on the same page and function as a well-oiled team.
Another Utah team, Murray, gained a berth in the tourney by means of hosting the tournament. Host teams rarely win a World Series game, said Murray manager Dewey Kettering.
But after being blown out on Saturday 18-1, Murray came back Sunday and defeated a Missouri team 8-7. Spencer Downs pitched 3 1?3 scoreless innings and Murray exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning. Murray's bullpen then hung on for the win.
Murray plays at 5:30 p.m. today and Taylorsville will take the field at 8 p.m. Pool play continues Wednesday with the teams with the best records squaring off in the quarterfinals beginning on Thursday.
e-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com