By Tim Peterson
(Temple City) – Sebastian Esparza drew a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to force in the winning run to give Temple City a 6-5 walk off victory over Royal Saturday at Temple City High.
The Rams trailed 2-0 right off the bat when Royal scored two in the first inning but they came right back with four of their own to grab the lead.
The game was tied at five entering the bottom of the seventh. Ethan Corral led off with a single to left and Daniel Matta Corral followed with a base hit to center. Jaykob Duhamel then laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt to move the runners over and Jack DeKarr was walked intentionally setting the stage for Esparza.
Esparza came off the bench to pinch hit for Justyn Henriguez, fouled off a couple pitches and then ultimately worked a walk from Royal pitcher Dean Barkman. Corral trotted home with the win.
Royal got two in the top of the first off of Temple City starter Alex Lin. Zach Nagy singled and Landon Parada walked. Nagy scored on a fly ball by Colten Rainer and Parada crossed the plate on a single by Isaiah Tillman.
The Rams responded with four in the bottom half. Parker Thomas walked and Corral singled. Matta ripped a triple down the rightfield line to score two. After Duhamel walked, Matta scored on an infield hit by Dekarr and a bunt by Henriquez plated Duhamel and just like that it was 4-2 Rams. Royal starter Rainer lasted just two-thirds of the first inning and was replaced by Barkman.
After the Highlanders added one in the second Temple City got one back in the fourth inning when Thomas singled and moved around to score on a passed ball.
Royal got one in the fifth and one in the sixth to tie it when Noah Vasquez walked and worked his way around to score on a couple of wild pitches.
The Rams then walked it off in the seventh.
For Royal Barkman went the rest of the way after relieving Rainer in the first. Lin started for the Rams and went four plus innings. Jack Scanlan went an inning and Isaac Carrillo finished up.
Temple City improved to 7-5-1 with the victory while Royal fell to 11-4.
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