CHICO — With its back up against the wall, and facing elimination in the 2024 Northern California Baseball State 9-11 Tournament, the Chico Central Little League 11-U All Star team battled. Trailing 2-0 and having just one hit and two baserunners (one error) through four innings against Atwater Little League pitcher Xavier Tapia, the Chico team rallied for five hits and four runs, before adding a fifth run in the bottom of the fifth inning on two singles and a wild pitch. Pitcher Jordy McCunie entered in relief of starter Ryan Baldwin with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, stranded the bases loaded, and got seven of the nine batters out he faced, as Chico Central Little League held on for the 5-2 victory.
Atwater got the tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, but McCunie got a strikeout swinging and a strikeout looking to end the game. Chico Central Little League's Jordy McCunie delivers a pitch against Atwater on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Chico Eastside Little League in Chico, California. McCunie pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed no runs.
(Eddie Saltzman/Contributed) Chico Central Little League catcher Blake Anderson celebrates after Chico defeats Atwater 5-2 with a strikeout for the final out Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Chico Eastside Little League in Chico, California. (Eddie Saltzman/Contributed) Chico Central Little League's Gryphon Naylor makes prepares to make contact on a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning in Chico's .