23 combined runs in its first two games of the Southwest Regional Tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has led to the Lafayette Little League Junior All Stars (13-14 year olds) advancing past two Texas All Star teams and into Monday’s championship game.

After beating Texas East 14-11 on Saturday, Lafayette defeated Texas West 9-5 on Sunday. The boys representing the Hub City will need to be beaten twice by Texas West, who emerged from the loser's bracket (defeated Texas East 2-0) after losing to Lafayette earlier Sunday. This means Lafayette is only one win away from playing in the Little League Junior Division World Series in Taylor, Michigan (outside of Detriot). By the way, five members of this LLL team played on the Lafayette team (11-12 year old) that made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 2011.

Texas West actually jumped on top first in this game, scoring 1 run in the top of the 1st inning. But, it didn’t take Lafayette long to respond, scoring 1 run in their half of the 1st, then 3 runs in the 2nd inning to go up 4-1.

It turned out to be another 3-run inning in the 4th for Lafayette. Emile Leger ripped a single and got a 2-base error, which scored a run. Miguel Reyes then brought in Leger with a double to give Lafayette a 7-1 lead.

But Texas West responded, scoring 3 runs of their own in the top of the 5th inning to cut the lead to 3. But, with the score now at 7-4, Reyes struck again, ripping a triple for Lafayette in the bottom of the 5th, driving in a run. A Texas error led to another run for Lafayette, which brought the score up to 9-4 after five complete innings.

A Texas West solo home run in the top of the 7th inning cut the score to 9-5, but that was as close as it would get as Lafayette completed a two-game sweep of the Texas teams.

First pitch Monday between Lafayette and Texas West is at 10:00 a.m. on Talkradio 960 AM and talkradio960.com. James P. Bitterman will have the call with the pregame show beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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