By Tim Peterson
Robert Nakamura scored on a drive to center by Conrad Council in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Monrovia a 4-3 win over Temple City Wednesday in a key Rio Hondo League match up.
Richard Kilbury got the start and worked four and two-third innings for Monrovia before being relieved by Uriel Velasco. Aaron Murphee came on to work a scoreless seventh setting the stage for the Wildcats game winner in the bottom half.
In the seventh Nick Bueno singled and stole second. Nakamura lined a shot into left field in what appeared to be the game winning hit. But Christian Cano delivered a strike from left field to catcher Alex Dow who applied the tag on the sliding Bueno.
After Nakamura moved to second, Council’s fly dropped in deep center field, Nakamura circled the bases and the celebration was on in M-Town.
Monrovia took a 3-0 lead after the first two innings but the Rams battled back with three in the in the fifth sparked by a double by Dusty Sanderson.
Temple City had an opportunity in the top of the seventh when Sanderson and Kyle Wilkinson singled with one out. Branden Pultz hit a hard ground ball to second that forced Wilkinson at second but the throw to first got away allowing Sanderson to score the apparent go ahead run. But Wilkinson was called for interference for the third out and the inning was over.
South Pasadena stunned La Canada 11-3 to allow Temple City to keep breathing. Monrovia and San Marino are tied for first and TC and La Canada are deadlocked for second with three games remaining.
TC 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 0
M 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 11 1
Rio Hondo League Standings
San Marino 9 3
Monrovia 9 3
La Canada 7 5
Temple City 7 5
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