Super Series Regional Champions - Lamorinda Diabolos

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Super Series Regional Champions - Lamorinda Diabolos

by - Ike Dodson/TBS

Lamorinda Diablos

MANTECA — When Lamorinda Diablos hitter Kevin Whitaker reached well above his head to belt a high fastball deep into foul territory during the 10-and-under championship game of the Super Series Regional Tournament at Big League Dreams in Manteca, CA. on Sunday, Sept. 22, the Elk Grove Gunners coaching staff could only watch the long shot admirably as it sailed out of play. "Where does he get his power from in that little body?" An Elk Grove coach loudly quipped as Whitaker prepared for the next pitch. "I guess he gets it from his daddy," A Lamorinda coach responded.

Then Whitaker responded, by delivering a sizzling line drive through the infield for an RBI in Lamorinda's 12-2 victory over the Gunners for the tournament title. Whitaker was 2-for-3 with a triple in the championship game, and finished an amazing tournament run with 11 hits in 13 at-bats with six singles, two triples and two home runs. "Kevin was fantastic and had his best tournament for us," Diablos coach Rick Rider said. "He was real productive." Whitaker was a big part of a Diablos offense that put up a 3-0 advantage in the first inning before scoring four runs in both the second and third innings.

Lamorinda knocked in a lone run in the fourth to make the Gunner's solo scores in the second and fourth innings not enough to avoid the 10-run mercy-ruling. Blake Disel smashed a two-RBI double in the first inning for the Diablos and watched Whitaker's third inning triple lead to another scoring spree. On the mound, Cameron Nodal tossed three innings and gave up no earned runs with a strikeout in his only performance of the tournament to record the win. Rider admitted Nodal was saved specifically for the finals appearance. "We feel confident when he is in there," Rider said. "He is our shut down guy and he is real hard to hit." The Diablos entered the championship game seeded second after an 11-6 loss to the Gunners in the final game of pool play. The team was 3-1 in overall tournament play with a 50-19 scoring advantage against some tough Under-10 competition. "We actually have been playing in the 11-and-under age group, so this was the first time we have played 10s in a while," Rider said. "We got a lot of work in. It was a good tournament for us."

The Gunners finished 3-1 as well in tourney play, and outscored opponents 32-24. The South Bay Diamondbacks went 1-2 with a 13-0 win over Lightening Baseball of Visalia (0-3) as well.

Kevin Whitaker flies into home for a run in the Lamorinda Diablos' 12-2 win over the Elk Grove Gunners on Sunday