Sports
DB Offense Explodes in PONY Regional Opener
The Diamond Bar Bronco All-Stars offense made a strong showing at a regional tournament that started Friday in Walnut.
WALNUT - It may have taken a few innings, but the Diamond Bar Bronco All-Stars showed they may be a force to be reckoned with during this weekend's PONY Regional Tournament.
Led by strong offensive days from shortstop Justin Ford and starting pitcher Eric Winchester, Diamond Bar rolled past West Covina Blue on Friday, earning a 10-2 victory at Creekside Park.
Diamond Bar trailed 2-1 after three innings, only to outscore West Covina 9-0 the rest of the way, including two runs in the fourth and three runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
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"I think a couple of kids on the team saw the (park) fence and wanted to hit a home run (in the beginning of the game)," Diamond Bar coach Jim Ha said. "They were overswinging. But as the game went on. We got more content to get on base and focus on the game."
Ford had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, including a RBI double in the fourth inning and RBI single in the sixth. Winchester also went 3-for-4 (three singles) with two runs scored.
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Dominic Cisneros went 2-for-2 with a two-run single and Chris Pagador capped Diamond Bar's dominant day with the bats in the top of the seventh, drilling a two-run triple to deep right-center field.
All in all, Diamond Bar stringed together 11 hits and had only three batters strike out against West Covina pitching.
On the mound, Diamond Bar got solid performances from the trio of Winchester, Pagador and Kyle Damasco. Winchester worked three innings and Pagador followed with an effective three innings, striking out four and allowing one hit. Damasco closed the game, working a scoreless seventh inning.
Up next for Diamond Bar is a 5:30 p.m. battle today against West Covina Red (9-6 winners over Monrovia).
Three teams will advance to next week's Super Regional in Whittier and Ha is confident about his team's chances in the eight-team field.
"I definitely think we can advance (to Super Regionals)," he said. "That's not to take away anything from the other teams. I just expect us to move on. But every game is going to be tough - it's not going to be a 10-2 game like it was (today)."