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Written by Glenn Walker<\/span><\/p>\n Washington, Pennsylvania<\/b>– The Long Beach Pony All-Stars continued their now 12 game winning streak Sunday after defeating Tamiami, Florida 5-1 in their first round World Series match-up. “[The win] is very important, the fact that we get a bye in the second round and have less games to play to get to the championship [game],” said coach Rick Romo.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Long Beach was led by stellar pitching from ace Chase DeJong, who threw a complete game giving up only one run (a last inning solo home run) on 5 hits, while striking out 10. DeJong also contributed at the plate going 1-3 with a walk. DeJong’s presence was a welcome re-addition to both the line-up and the rotation after he had been away in another tournament.<\/p>\n “It was big to have Chase back as the number one pitcher,” said Romo.<\/p>\n \n A third inning blast to right-center field from catcher Matt Maccarrone put Long Beach ahead by a run. The home run was the second from Maccarrone since post-season play began. The catcher was the offensive catalyst throughout adding a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a total of two runs scored.<\/p>\n \n Long Beach had an opportunity to put the game away in the fifth inning after loading the bases with none out, but managed only to scrape a run across on a wild pitch. The Long Beach offense was not at its peak on Sunday but they were picked up numerous times by solid defensive plays, including two double plays and a big hold in the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third and two out when DeJong got a jam shot line out to shortstop Thomas Walker.<\/p>\n \n “Defensively, a lot of good plays. Big plays at important times kept us in the game,” said Romo.<\/p>\n \n In the top of the sixth controversy ensued as Tamiami’s second pitcher of the game, Gianfranco Bermal, was thrown out for not being officially introduced when he came in the game. Head Coach Ken Jakemeer jumped on the illegal substitution, which would later benefit Long Beach as they tacked on a run against Danny Salomon who replaced Bermal.<\/p>\n \n Two more runs came around to score on Salomon in the seventh when Soloman Williams singled with the bases-loaded and Irie Elizalde was hit-by-the-pitch in the next at-bat. “It set the tone. They know we are a team not to be taken lightly,” said DeJong on the winning the first game of the tournament.<\/p>\n \n As all players know the anticipation of the first game in a big series can be a detriment, but Long Beach came in with confidence and more adrenaline than anxiety. “We were real loose and pumped to play because we know we could beat any team out here,” said Williams who finished the game 2-4 with a RBI.<\/p>\n \n According to the players the keys to success for their second game on Tuesday night will be continuing momentum and making the necessary adjustments to the new field and different pitching speeds. Long Beach will play Hagerstown, Maryland in their next game, on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n \n