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PGF 10U National Championship: Battle Between Two California Powers Comes Down to Last Pitch in Bottom of 9th

Corona Angels-McCullough, winners of 2019 PGF 10U Nationals Championship.

In the fourth year of PGF 10U Nationals, it was guaranteed that for the first time ever the champion would be from California as two Southern California rivals, Corona Angels-McCullough faced So Cal Choppers-Franco.

In an instant classic that came down to the final pitch in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Angels pulled out the win as lefty leadoff hitter Jordin Washington lined a one-out walk-off single to left field that scored Georgia Rickenbacker to give the Angels the dramatic 3-2 win.

Pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, the niece of legendary Arizona and Team USA star pitcher Jennie Finch, got the complete game win as she scattered three hits over nine innings while striking out 10.

Malaya Majam-Finch had nine K’s for the Angels including five in the first two innings.

“I was thinking, ‘We did it, we made, all the hard work paid off,” Majam-Finch said after the win. “We’re National Champions!’”

The two teams had played Saturday with the Angels winning 2-1 to push the Choppers to the Loser’s Bracket, necessitating the team having to win twice over Impact Gold, which they did.

Today, Majam-Finch started the game off with a flourish, striking out the side in the top of the first.

She was staked to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when Breeya De La Riva hit a flair into centerfield to score ­­Taylor Johns who had walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error.

The lead lasted until the top of the 4th inning when the Choppers took the lead 2-1.

Choppers cleanup hitter Samantha Maldonado surprised everyone with a bunt single to kick off the inning. Hailey Chavallo followed with a single to right and Sasha Pham, looking to put down a sac bunt, stroked a two-strike line-drive to right field to bring home Maldonado to even the score.

A view from the top as the stands were packed for the Corona Angels-McCullough vs So Cal Choppers-Franco game.

Still with no outs and runners at third and second, the Choppers put up a second run on a fielder’s choice to Majam-Finch who threw to first for the out.

The Choppers looked to add to the one-run lead in the top of the 5th inning when an infield single and walk put the first two runners on. A sac bunt moved them up and an intentional walk loaded the bases, but a bunt attempt by Pham led to a force-out at home and Angels catcher Charlotte Baum made a strong throw to first to turn the double play and keep the score at 2-1.

The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the 6th after looking to have squandered an earlier opportunity in the inning.

Coach Lydell McCullough holds up the PGF 10U Nationals trophy

Majam-Finch singled to left with no outs and was moved to second on an Ava Tapia bunt. The tall pitcher then stole third, but was caught trying to run home on a sac bunt attempt as Choppers third baseman Mia Arballo fielded the ball, pumped to first and then turned to tag out Majam-Finch coming down the third base line.

With two outs and Georgia Rickenbacher on first, Baum lined a hard shot to the right-center wall and sped around for a run-scoring triple.

With the ITB rules in effect (runner on second to start the inning), both teams were unable to score despite having runners at third with one out—the Choppers in the top of the 7th and the Angels in the bottom of the 8th.

Finally, in the bottom of the 9th the Angels had the bases loaded with one out but a strikeout led to the dramatics of Washington’s game-winning single.

“At first, I was just wanting to put the ball in play so she could store!” Washington said excitedly.

Head coach Lydell McCullough admitted he was at a loss for words after the thrilling come-from-behind win but was effusive in his praise of his lead-off hitter who’s hit cinched the title.

“Jordin has been a two-year starter for us at 10U, last year we came in 3rd place but this year we got it done. She’s someone who puts the ball in play, had the highest average on our team and I was confident that she would get it done.”

Washington went 2-for-5 and the big RBI. Majam Finch was 1-for-1 and had three walks, two intentionally.

Juliana Franco pitched well in the losing cause for the Choppers, giving up two earned runs with seven strikeouts in the loss.

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