Flores’ single leads Portland to walk-off win
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Tino Flores, center, is mobbed by teammates Brave Johnson, left, and Bryce Mayo after Flores recorded the game-winning hit during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Carson Andyke (1) celebrates with teammate Paul Oellrich after Oellrich scored the game-winning run during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's James Gill III takes a pop-up away from teammate Brave Johnson during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Paul Oellrich slides safely into home with the winning run as Norwalk, Connecticut's Jacob Fields receives a late throw during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth World Series on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Norwalk, Connecticut shortstop Dylan Izzi throws to first base during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Portland, Oregon on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Tino Flores, center, is mobbed by teammates Brave Johnson, left, and Bryce Mayo after Flores recorded the game-winning hit during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Carson Andyke (1) celebrates with teammate Paul Oellrich after Oellrich scored the game-winning run during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's James Gill III takes a pop-up away from teammate Brave Johnson during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Norwalk, Connecticut at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Portland, Oregon's Paul Oellrich slides safely into home with the winning run as Norwalk, Connecticut's Jacob Fields receives a late throw during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth World Series on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
Times Observer photo by Matt Spielman Norwalk, Connecticut shortstop Dylan Izzi throws to first base during Game 18 of the Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series against Portland, Oregon on Wednesday at Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y.
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JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- Tino Flores has a Babe Ruth 13-15 World Series memory for the ages.
Bryce Mayo's isn't bad either.
Together, they led Portland, Oregon to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Norwalk, Connecticut in Game 18 at Diethrick Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Flores' two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Paul Oellrich with the winning run and set off a wild celebration by the Pacific Northwest Regional champions.
Flores' heroics were made possible when Oellrich led off the inning with a walk against reliever Colin Peters, who came on in relief of David Harry to start the sixth inning. After Peters struck out Roscoe Mithoefer, Jabril Love-Shabazz laid down a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Flores, who lined a base hit to center field. Oellrich just beat the throw to the plate and Portland is now 2-2 in the National Division. Norwalk is now 3-1.
While Flores provided the late-game heroics, Mayo was brilliant from start to finish, tossing a four-hitter, striking out three and walking two, one intentionally. He left the game after giving up a leadoff double to Jacob Fields in the bottom of the seventh. James Gill, who drove in Portland's first-inning run on a groundout, came on in relief and gave up a flyball that advanced Fields to third. Fields ultimately scored the tying run on a wild pitch before Gill retired the side.
Like his counterpart, Mayo, Harry was just as effective on the mound for Norwalk. In five innings, he didn't give up a hit, struck out three and walked two. The run he allowed in the first inning was unearned after a flyball was dropped in the outfield.
Flores and Norwalk's Matt Rinaldi were the Ron Tellefsen Outstanding Players of the Game.