The Winslow Bulldogs were ousted from the Arizona State Division III Baseball Tournament by an 8-5 loss to Fountain Hills on Friday. The loss ended the season for Winslow with an impressive record of 22-6. The Bulldogs were the second seeded team in the tournament and were upset by the 15th seeded Falcons, who looked like Cinderella as they won their third straight game in the tournament to continue into the semifinals.
Fountain Hills scored three runs in the second inning on a hit batsman, a double and a single. Winslow cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning on singles by Vittorio Sells and Vicenzio Sells, and a walk to Caleb Layden. The Falcons scored in the top of the fifth on a single, a wild pitch, a ground out and a sacrifice fly. Winslow tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of that frame on a home run by Vittorio Sells, a single by Colton Corum and a hit batsman.
The key inning was the top of the sixth when Fountain Hills scored three runs without benefit of a hit. There were three walks, a throwing error and a couple of wild pitches as the Falcons built a 7-4 lead. That margin was increased to 8-4 in the top of the seventh on a walk and a couple of wild pitches. Winslow got its final run in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of walks and a single by Corum.
Vittorio Sells led the Bulldogs at the plate with a two for four day including a home run. Aaron Martin was also two for four with a double. Vincenzio Sells was one for three. Corum, Matt Cirre and Matt Smith were all one for four.
Caleb Layden started and worked the first five innings. Smith worked the last two. Layden took the loss from walking the leadoff hitter in the fateful sixth.
