In the Cottonwood men’s summer softball championship, Mike’s 12 Pack scored early and often. And late and often. And in between and often.
The perennial power pounded the Diablos June 29 at Riverfront Park, scoring at least two runs in each inning on the way to a 20-6 victory.
The Diablos played their way into the title game through the losers bracket by defeating Black Hills Auto / Car Star, 15-12.
Black Hills scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game, stranding the winning run on first base.
The Diablos dominated the extra inning, scoring three and holding Black Hills scoreless.
The excitement of that game was in stark contrast to the championship tilt, when Mike’s 12 Pack, as the visiting team, put three on the board to open the game. They had only two hits in the inning, but a single and a walk set the stage for a three-run home run.
After a scoreless first for the Diablos, Mike’s added two more in the top of the second, scoring on a fielder’s choice and a solo home run.
Mike’s pitcher Dave DeWitt, who is also the team’s coach, again blanked the Diablos in the bottom of the second.
In the third, Mike’s put the pedal to the metal, turning four singles, two walks and an error into five runs.
After another Diablos scoreless inning, Mike’s scored six runs in the top of the fourth to take a commanding 16-0 lead.
However, the Diablos found some life in the bottom of the fourth, posting six runs on a grand slam and a two-run homer.
It turned out to be too little, too late as Mike’s responded with four runs in the top of the fifth.
Down 20-6 in the bottom of the inning, the Diablos faced defeat by way of “mercy” rule, which calls for the end of a game when one team trails by more than 10 runs after five innings.
They went quietly, with DeWitt striking out the last batter to clinch the championship.
For more photos, please see the Wednesday, July 6, issues of the Camp Verde Journal and Cottonwood Journal Extra.
