KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The West team has had its ups and downs at the 2004 Big League World Series. After two days of round-robin action, the West Regional team from District 51 of Palmdale is now 2-2 after splitting its doubleheader on Tuesday. The West won its morning game against EMEA from Kutno, Poland, 17-1. It then fell hard in the second game against the defending World Series Champion from the East in District 7 from Waldorf, Md., 11-0. On Monday, the West split its two games against Southwest (Austin, Texas) and host District 2. The team lost to District 2, but beat Southwest in a 10-run mercy rule game. Since the format to reach Sunday's championship game, which will be aired on ESPN2, is by runs scored and runs allowed, the West still has a fighting chance at getting there. "We pretty much have to win out to get to the championship," West manager Walt Patison said. The West has scored 28 runs and has allowed 12 in four games played. "Considering those facts, I'd say that were not too bad," West team member Chanel Reaves said. "I think (today) will show how big or small our chances are." The West plays against Central from Grand Rapids, Mich., at 7:30 a.m. and then has a tough one against Latin America from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 10 a.m. The East, which is now 3-1 in the tournament, played Latin America on Tuesday and came away with a 7-1 win. Nicole Torres started in the first game against EMEA and allowed one hit, a walk and struck out one batter in four innings pitched. "Our defense played really well behind me and I felt good about the way I was pitching,"said Torres, who plays at Quartz Hill High. The West had five extra-base hits against EMEA with several other batters accumulating singles. "It made it easier for me and (Sarah Ely) pitching since we were doing so well hitting," Torres said. The West had 12 hits in the game, while Torres and Ely, who came in relief in the fifth inning, allowed one hit in the cirlce. The West was stunned in the second game against the East after they got on the board early in the second inning. "They scored early and after that I think we got down ourselves," said West team member Brooke Stix, who had double in the first game. The West only had four hits in the game while the East racked up 15 against standout pitcher Nickie Perez. "Basically we just didn't hit the ball," Patison said. "We weren't patient at the plate and their girl had a good rise ball."
District 51 17, Europe 1 (6 innings)
District 51 231 407 - 17 12 0
Europe 000 010 - 1 1 4
Nicole Torres, Sarah Ely (5) and Rebecca Zapata, WP - Torres. 5 2B - Shanna Ely, Brooke Stix, Kelsey Blankmeyer, Mary Beth Promisel, Rebecca Zapata.
East 11, District 51 0
East 011 500 - 11 15 1
District 51 000 000 0 - 0 4 4
Sara Ely, Laura Calvert (5) and Zapata. Tross Back and Smith. WP - Back. LP - Sara Ely. 2B - Laura Calvert.