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Sports

Erickson Delivers Twice As All-Stars Win Again

Manhattan Beach third baseman has a pair of two-run doubles including the game winner in the eighth inning, leading the Mustangs to a 5-3 victory over Aruba at the Senior League World Series. The All-Stars are 2-0 in pool play.

BANGOR, Maine — Throughout the Senior League All-Star tournaments, Ryan Erickson has thrived in the leadoff spot for the West Regional champions from Manhattan Beach.

Monday night at Mansfield Stadium, Erickson found himself batting fifth as Manager Carlos Rojas shook up the batting order in an effort to generate more offense.

Rojas' changeup produced immediate results as Erickson belted a two-run double to right center in the fourth for what appeared to be the game-winning before the Latin American champs from San Nicholas, Aruba, tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.

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No problem. Erickson simply delivered an exact copy with nobody out and runners at second and third in the top of the eighth for another two-run double that was indeed the game-winning hit in Manhattan Beach's 5-3 victory.

"I wasn't doing well, contact-wise, so I switched my approach and took a shorter swing by shortening up on the bat a little," the Manhattan Beach third baseman said. "I got a high fastball on the first one and a lower one on the second."

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Erickson wasn't the only batter switching spots in the order. The Nos. 4 and 5 hitters were moved to the sixth and seventh spots, respectively, to generate some more offense and Brett Clark was put in the cleanup spot.

The result was an 11-hit attack led by Erickson and No. 3 hitter Bret Collins, who had three singles and two runs. Clark singled twice and scored twice.

"Ryan pretty much carried us as a leadoff man and led us with five homers," Rojas said. "He was so hot, I didn't want to change him even though the coaches were getting on me."

The West's changes weren't just limited to the order as Rojas opted to start No. 5 starting pitcher Sam O'Melia over Turner Conrad or Carter Casady. O'Melia routinely put his fastball on the outside corner for strikes,  keeping a solid Aruba offense off balance.

O'Melia didn't get the win, but threw 4 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball with three walks and two strikeouts.

"He kept us close and that's all I asked of him," Rojas said. "He's our No. 5 starter, but he really asked for the ball against Aruba and since he can hit the outside corner well, that worked well against them."

Aruba took a 1-0 lead in the first on a leadoff walk and Jiandido Tromp's RBI double. Erickson's two-run double in the fourth made it 2-1 and the score stayed that way until a white-knuckle seventh in which Milton Croes led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, later moved to third with a walk to Mitchell Martes and scored on Chadwick Tromp's bases-loaded walk with two outs.

Rather than wilt under pressure, the 2-0 West champs rallied with four straight hits in the eighth, scoring first on a wild pitch and twice more on Erickson's second double.

Aruba scored once in the eighth as Croes singled again, went to second on Shawn Duinkerk's single, and scored on an infield throwing error.

After swiping a Series record 10 bases Sunday night, 1-1 Aruba managed just one steal Monday.

"Our pitchers changed up looks, worked fast and held people on, and that really helped us," said catcher Ian McLoughlin, who called most of the pitches.

Austin Henning earned the win with two innings of relief after giving up the tying run in the seventh.

"Their pitchers dominated our guys," said Aruba head coach Rayborn Didder. "We didn't make some adjustments and those last three innings, we had runners in scoring position and we didn't do the job."

Duinkerk did, throwing six innings of two-run ball despite giving up seven hits. He notched nine strikeouts while walking just one batter.

"Their starting pitcher is the real deal. He was something else tonight," Rojas said. "This was a big one for us tonight."

McLoughlin, who doubled off Duenkirk in the second, concurred.

"That starter was a great pitcher, but we were able to figure him out after going through the lineup once, and timing him up," he said.

 The Manhattan Beach All-Stars play their third game at the World Series on Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Saipan, the Asia-Pacific champion.

–By Andrew Neff, Bangor Daily News

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