2013 35+

Eric Vargas blasts a walk-off double in the 9th to seal 4-3 victory

By Les Zoltowski, MSBLNational.com

Eric Vargas blasted a walk-off, RBI double to score Malik Smith and give Team Las Vegas Blue a 4-3 win over the Ventura Dodgers and the 35 Central Las Vegas Open title.

Team Las Vegas had 15 hits on the day with player-manager Maurico Molina collecting four hits and Andrew Zoulko getting three hits, including a solo homer in the sixth inning. Ventura’s Cary

Scott McIntosh earned the win in relief of starter Mike Maganza. Thompson and manager Jason Warren were both 3-for-4 in a losing effort for Ventura.

With the game knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Ventura starter Julio Lopez went with the odds and intentionally walked Vegas’s Mark Mosse in order to face Vargas who hadno hits and a strike out on the day. Vargas responded to the challenge with the game-winning RBI.Warren said his team’s failure to convert on a couple of bases loaded situations ultimately cost them the game. Warren said Dale Craig, who had an on-base percentage of .800 for the tournament, was the catalyst in his team’s success, but added, “you can’t just rely on one player.” Molina, who praised his entire pitching staff, said pitching was the difference in the finals. “It was a classic one run game and my hat is off Ventura and their pitcher who threw a gem.”