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YANKEE DANDIES
Power pitching, hitting decide championship
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Jake Pruitt fired nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to lead the Yankees to a 9-1 victory over the Mets. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/The Bulletin
Jake Pruitt struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings, and Jacob Alvarado and Nick Lucchetti smacked two-run blasts in the sixth inning to lead the Yankees’ 9-1 major division championship victory over the Mets Monday at Gillen Field in what was Northgate Little League’s mini version of the Subway Series.
Once Pruitt harnessed his fastball, the Mets struggled to keep up. He struck out five at one point until Stephen Perez halted the streak with a one-out double in the third frame. Andrew Ruiz drove him in with a single to center for the Mets’ lone run.
Pruitt and relief pitcher Will Davis were backed by an error-free defense.
They were also aided by their dangerous lineup. Pruitt was 3 for 4 with a double, but Lucchetti did the most damage from the third-place spot of the order.
Lucchetti broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third with a two-run single, and his sixth-inning homer was punctuated a productive 3-for-4 day. He also had three runs and drove in four others.
Alvarado finished 2 for 4 with two runs, Chris Ah Yo was 2 for 3 with two runs and Jake Larkin ended the Yankees’ four-run third with a two-RBI double to deep center.
The Yankees punched their ticket to the District 67 Tournament of Champions which begins Sunday back at Gillen Field. Host Northgate opens with Salida at noon.
— Jonamar Jacinto