Rancho rallies but loses regional championship in extra innings

Blake Vierra’s sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning Monday lifted Chico (Calif.) to a 7-6 win over Rancho in the championship game of the American Legion Western Regional in Surprise, Ariz.

Nick Jackson drew a four-pitch walk with one out to start the rally and moved to third on Lucas Corriea’s double to right field before Greg Darms was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Vierra then hit a 1-2 pitch in the air to center field, and Jackson raced home with the winning run for Chico, which beat Tucson (Ariz.) Post 7, 12-5 in the first game Monday to earn a spot in the final.

Rancho (31-20) trailed 4-1 after three innings but rallied to tie the game in the fourth before falling behind again 6-5 after six innings. Zach Barnhart’s one-out single in the eighth inning plated Jose Verdugo with the tying run.

Barnhart finished 5-for-6 with two RBIs. Juan Cruz-Sanchez and Abel Martinez each went 2-for-4 for the Post 8 Rams.