Considered a favorite coming into Vancouver, Nogales National of Arizona pounded out 12 hits while holding Sandpoint, Idaho, to three hits in an 11-1 win Thursday in their first game of the Junior League Western Regional at Propstra Stadium.
Alex Ramos was 3 for 3 with an RBI, while teammates Jorge Bojorquez, Paul Carreno, Jonathan Lopez and Luis Andrade each had two hits. Carreno drove in three runs.
Aaron Solis and Gerardo Martinez combined on the three-hitter. Solis struck out eight, Martinez three, and neither walked a batter.
The tournament to determine the West representative for the Little League Junior World Series continues through Wednesday.
In other pool-play games Thursday:
Southern California 13, Utah 0 — Manhattan Beach scored nine run in the third inning, in a game shortened by the 10-run rule. Dylan Dennis was 4 for 4 with two doubles and six RBI. Merrick Baldo and Jared Karros combined on a three-hitter in the opener for both teams.
Northern California 15, Nevada 5 — David Martinex was 2 for 3 with three RBI and four runs scored for the all-stars from Gilroy in their first game.
Hawaii 21, Alaska 1 — A 10-run first inning put the game away and Pearl City’s pitching held Ketchikan to one hit in the five-inning game. Cade Halemanu was 4 for 5 with a double and three RBI and four runs scored. Joey Casarez was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI as Hawaii won its second game.
