Columbus Rallies Past Braddock For 7A-15 Title

Top-seeded Columbus rallied twice from deficits to win the 7A-District 15 Tournament in a dramatic, nail-biting 3-2 win at home Thursday over #2-seed Braddock.

“It came down to two great pitchers threw well, controlled the strike zone for most of the time, most of the game,” said Columbus assistant Oscar Benitez.

Jason Vasquez threw a complete-game gem for Columbus, now 20-6 and ranked #5 in Miami-Dade.

“He threw very well, threw strikes, and stayed ahead in the count,” Benitez said.

Vasquez yielded just four hits and two walks while striking out eight. He threw 61 strikes in his 93-pitch outing.

Trailing. 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Aquiles Arzeno lined a clutch two-out RBI-single that scored Jose Correa to break a 2-2 tie. Correa highlighted the Explorers’ two-run inning with a hit-and-run single. Rafael Diaz followed with an RBI-single, scoring courtesy runner Alex Cruz, that tied the game, 2-2.

Mario Magana gave Braddock the early 1-0 lead with a first-inning solo homer, but the Explorers answered in the bottom half of the inning on Rene Ramirez’s RBI, plating courtesy runner Jason Garcia, who was running for Arzeno after he singled to open the inning.

Arzeno, Diaz, and Franklin Francisco led Columbus’ 10-hit attack with two apiece.

Braddock regained the lead, 2-1, in the top of the sixth inning. Michael Sanchez opened the inning with a single. He was advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Boris Lazo, and scored on Manny Sanchez’s fielder’s choice grounder.

But the Explorers rallied again for a second time in the bottom half of the inning.

“Braddock played well but today was our day, Benitez said.

Daniel Bravo struck out six in his five innings of work for the Bulldogs while Ryan Valez and Brayan Martinez had a hit each.

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