Puerto Rico hurler strikes out 10 as Vaqueros claim Koufax Series title

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14u, Arizona, Arturo Catto, Brandon Marerro, Bryan Morales, championship, double elimination, Javier Torres, Joshua Mercado, Kenniel Riveria, New York Youth Service, Pablo Rodriguez, Puerto Rico Vaqueros, Sandy Koufax Wolrd Series, Surprise Stadium, Victor Persad

The Puerto Rico Vaqueros celebrate after winning the 2011 Koufax World Series

For the first four games of the Sandy Koufax (14u) World Series, New York Youth Service hit everything that was thrown at it. But the New Yorkers hadn’t faced the likes of Kenniel Riveria or Javier Torres.

After Rivieria shut out of New York to a forced a second game Saturday morning at Surprise Stadium,  Torres followed up with a 10-strikeout, complete game as the  Puerto Rico Vaqueros won 7-3 and took the championship in the double- elimination tournament.

Rivieria was 3-for-3 with a homer and a double in the second game.

Rivieria was named the tournament MVP. Torres was named the outstanding pitcher of the tournament.

Torres scattered seven hits and gave up two earned runs.

Puerto Rico scored two in the top of the first. Rivieria doubled with two out.  Bryan Morales tripled to make it 1-0.  Brandon Marerro followed with an RBI single.

Puerto Rico added a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings before New York, which scored 56 runs in its first four games, finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth.

Joshua Mercado doubled to score Arturo Catto. Two outs later, Victor Persad singled to drive in Mercado.

Puerto Rico added two in the top of the seventh when Pablo Rodriguez tripled and Riveria homered.

The New Yorkers fought until the end. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, and Cotto scored on an error.

Torres ended the threat and the game with a strikeout.