June 6, 2009 — Leonardo Castillo gave up two hits and struck out 11 batters to lead the Elmo Plaskett East Little League to a 2-1 game one victory over the West All Stars at the Renholt Jackson Sport Complex in Estate Whim on Friday.
Jahkeele Stevens, the West starter did not pitch too badly either, giving up just four hits in defeat.
The opening contest of the best two out of three series to determine who will represent St. Croix against St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands Little League tournament next weekend was an excellent pitching duel from start to finish. But the East and their ace were just a little better.
After Castillo set down the West All Stars in order in the top of the first, the East scored the first run of the game on an RBI single off the bat of Darren Stevens to take the early lead.
With both pitchers throwing well, that lead would stand up until the top of the fifth inning when the West picked up an unearned run to knot the game at on to the delight of the home crowd. The East, however, was equal to the task as they were able to retake the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the inning on Evanson Mathew's clutch RBI single.
That one-run lead would prove to be enough for Castillo as he easily took care on the West hitters in the top of the sixth and last inning, striking out two of the three he faced to preserve the victory.
Top batters for the East All Stars were Mathew, 2 for 3 with an RBI, Stevens 1 for 3 with an RBI and Deandre Simmonds, 1 for 3. For the West, Steven Adams and Anastacio Carino were both 1 for 2.
Earlier in the day, the five-time defending champions, East 9-10 All Stars, destroyed the West 20-10 in four innings by way of the 10- run mercy rule.
Playing in front of easily the largest crowd that they have seen all year, nerves seemed to get the best of the West pitching. This led to numerous walks which turned into a plethora of easy runs for the East who found themselves ahead 18-1 after just two innings. The West fought back somewhat in the third inning but it was too little too late, and they went down to defeat to now trail in the best two out of three series, 1-0.
