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AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL Time to celebrate Mavericks top Royals to defend Legion A state crown By Warren Blenkush Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports MailTribune.com By Warren Blenkush Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Aug. 1, 2016 @ 2:00 am By Warren Blenkush Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Aug. 1, 2016 @ 2:00 am --> North Medford 5, North Jackson 1 RECAP: North Medford starter Ryan Sandoval allows one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in six innings and the Mavericks used three... » Read more X North Medford 5, North Jackson 1 RECAP: North Medford starter Ryan Sandoval allows one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in six innings and the Mavericks used three unearned runs in the first inning to secure a third consecutive state championship. UP NEXT: Thursday-Tuesday, Pacific Northwest Regionals, Laurel, Mont. » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> CENTRAL POINT — It wasn’t quite the regular season so many past champion North Medford Mavericks teams have enjoyed but when they get in the state tournament, the Mavericks proved again Sunday they’re a threat every time. Amongst a slew of youngsters who have stepped up for the Mavericks this season, and roughly a month shy of his sophomore year, Ryan Sandoval’s performance on the mound in Sunday’s American Legion A state title game personified the type of grit that the Mavericks have displayed through their flawless run in the tournament. Sandoval lasted six-plus innings to help the Mavericks defend their state title and collect their fifth overall with a 5-1 victory over the North Jackson Royals, a fellow Area 4 squad, at Anhorn Field. “This championship can be attributed to our kids’ hard work and them buying into our program,” said Mavericks coach Brett Wolfe. “We push them really hard so they buy into the program and that’s what matters, that’s what makes a difference. ” The Mavericks (30-23) will look to build on their season in the Pacific Northwest Regionals in Laurel, Mont. beginning Thursday. Sandoval, who struggled the last time he faced North Jackson (23-14), made a few minor tweaks to his mechanics and those changes made a world of difference this time around. “When I get too tense I'll start to throw a lot of balls and I try to throw too hard,” said Sandoval, who allowed just one earned run on three hits, four walks and two hit batters with three strikeouts. “When I relax, I’ll start to pound the zone and I was able to get them off-guard. Today, my curveball and changeup were working really well for me and so that helped me keep them off-balance, and when I could get that fastball they were just behind because they never knew it was coming.” Sandoval was the beneficiary of a rough start by the Royals’ defense, which committed two errors in the bottom of the first inning, leading to three unearned runs. After the Mavericks’ Brandon King walked and Jon-o Gassman reached on an error by the pitcher, Justin Geyer’s drag bunt was fielded by Royals third baseman Dylan Marsh, who threw it short of first base, resulting in both King and Gassman crossing home plate. Geyer advanced to second base on the miscue and later scored on Zack Collins’ single to give the Mavericks a 3-0 lead. Sandoval, however, nearly gave those runs back to North Jackson in the top of the second. After walking his counterpart Trae Perkins, giving up a single to Bennett Rodgers and hitting Chuck Little with a pitch, the bases were loaded against Sandoval. But he responded by inducing Tanner Jostad to hit the ball right back to the pitcher’s mound for the second out and then got Jacob Nielsen to fly out to centerfield to finish the frame. Sandoval again escaped peril in the top fifth and stranded two runners. In the bottom of the fifth, after Josh Robbins and Wyatt Baptiste reached on consecutive errors by the Royals’ shortstop, with Robbins advancing to third on the second error, Tyler Seney flew out to Preston Johnson in right field but Robbins tagged third base and sprinted for home. Johnson’s ensuing throw was on a line to North Jackson catcher Chuck Little but he couldn’t corral it as Robbins scored on the sacrifice fly. After singling to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Tristan Drewien scored on Collins’ fielder’s choice to bolster the Mavericks’ lead to 5-0. Through six innings, Sandoval had thrown scoreless baseball but after beaning leadoff man Jostad in the top of the seventh, that was the end of the line for Sandoval, who was spelled by Collins. With a 5-0 lead, after Collins struck out Nielsen, he allowed a four-pitch walk to Coldin Shopp and walked Preston Johnson on a full count to load the bases. Ryan Lorenz followed by driving home Jostad for the Royals’ first run on a groundout to third base. With runners on first and second base, Marsh was North Jackson's last chance. The Royals star cleanup hitter battled Collins in an eight-pitch at-bat but he grounded out to third base, sealing the victory for the Mavericks, who celebrated by dogpiling on the field. North Jackson faced a tall order coming into the day as the Royals would have had to beat the Mavericks twice to win the title in the eight-team, double-elimination event. North Medford previously edged North Jackson, 4-2, on Day 2 of the tourney. The Josh Leedy-coached Royals enjoyed their best season in recent memory by making the state tournament for the first time in over 20 years. Leedy, in just his second year at Eagle Point High, helped guide the Eagles to the state playoffs in the spring following a 16-year hiatus. “It was a huge step,” said Leedy. “The boys are onboard and we’re progressing and everyone is getting better. “I hope when they wake up tomorrow that they realize what they’ve accomplished. It’s huge but it’s gonna sting for them a little bit. If it doesn’t sting then we have other issues. That shows me that these guys’ hearts were fully into this.” Leedy pointed across the field at the Mavericks posing with their championship banner: “That’s how they do it across the field over there.” North Jackson;000;000;1;—;1;3;4 North Medford;300;011;x;—;5;4;1 Perkins, Johnson (5) and Little; Sandoval, Collins (7) and Geyer. W — Sandoval. L — Perkins. Reach reporter Warren Blenkush at 541-776-4492 or [email protected] By Warren Blenkush Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports MailTribune.com By Warren Blenkush Mail Tribune Follow @@MTsports Posted Aug. 1, 2016 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Olympics --> --> Rankings for Top 10 Running Backs and Sleepers Aug. 1, 2016 at 9:00 am Early Fantasy Mock Draft Before Training Camps Jul. 21, 2016 at 9:00 am Gurley: I'm No. 1 Overall Fantasy Player Jul. 11, 2016 at 10:41 am Predicting the Top Fantasy Football Sleeper at Each Position Jul. 7, 2016 at 7:00 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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