With loaded bases at hand, Jeremy Lizama walked Keoni Lizama and pushed Diego Camacho home for the Aces’ winning run.
The tables were turned at the start, with the Hustlers landing a two-run first inning on errors.
“The kids played a good game and they fought hard,” said Ol’ Aces coach Mark Flores. “We were down two runs for most of the game, so I give my kids credits for basically not giving up.”
Eli Aughenbaugh took over Harry Nakamura as the team’s starting pitcher and hit a single before scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth. Keoni Lizama, hit by a pitch from McGarett Duenas, returned home on Jesse Yamagishi’s sacrifice bat.
Aughenbaugh mustered four strikeouts to keep the Hustlers at bay in the last four innings.
“He (Aughenbaugh) was a little shaky in the beginning, but he settled down and had a lot of good plays,” noted Flores.
Duenas struck out six and allowed three runs on three hits before being replaced by Jeremy Lizama.
Two outs into the bottom of the sixth, Keoni Lizama handed the Aces’ third run on an error by Yamagishi.
“They came over here and finished up the game and got what they really wanted since day one,” said Flores. “They worked hard, they finished, and they got what they deserved.”
Flores described part of the game as a “challenge” on keeping everyone focused since their recent confrontation with the Fielders.
“It was a really long season for all the coaches and kids,” he added.
Irvin Saralu came in as a pinch runner for Joaquin Muna and tied the game, 3-3 to keep the Hustlers alive in the top of the seventh.
Both teams scored seven regular season wins and five losses prior to the playoffs, stunning the top seeded Northern Stars and No. 2 Fielders to reach the finals.
