Sang Lee
Identical brothers are scientifically proven to have the exact
same genes. They look alike, think alike and sometimes, even act
alike.
So maybe it shouldn't have been too surprising when Burbank's Troy
Birtell followed his twin brother's lead in the fourth inning to
knock a home run over the center-field fence.
Coincidentally, it was at almost the exact spot his brother Eric
hit his only an inning earlier.
The "Bash Brothers" helped the Indians prolong their season by
defeating Vaquero Little League's Auto Body, 16-3, in the
second-chance bracket of the Little League District 16 Major
Baseball Tri-Cities Tournament on Thursday at Tujunga Field.
"It's not too often you see identical twins hitting home runs in
the same game," Indian Coach Bill Birtell said.
Auto Body (18-5) started on a good note with an early first-inning
run as leadoff batter Anthony Guzman scored on a wild pitch.
But things started to go downhill for Auto Body in the third
inning when the Indians' bats started to catch on fire.
Indeed, the heat was intensified by a conflagration burning just a
few miles up the road that threatened to cancel the game.
But Birtell insisted that the fire had no effect on his players.
"No, I don't think the fire affected us. It just delayed the game
a little," he said.
And after a short delay midway through the second inning, it was
all the Indians (15-8), which face the Frogs in the next round.
The Birtell brothers combined to go five for six with both earning
a walk and three runs.
Also with three runs were Austin Holgate, Brendan Carter and Scott
Mills.
"It feels great to win and that we can move on," Bill Birtell
added. "We're just taking it one game at a time and hopefully we can
stay until the finish."
The same couldn't be said for Auto Body, who finishes the
tournament with two disappointing losses. But Auto Body Coach John
Barcena is nonetheless proud of his team.
"I'm very proud," Barcena said. "The kids tried very hard and they
just made a few mental mistakes. But you still have to give [Burbank]
credit.
"But my kids kept their heads held up high and I'm proud of them
for that."
BOX SCORE
Indians 0 0 4
8 4 -- 16 9 1
Auto Body 1 0 2
0 0 -- 3 4 4
Indians IP H R
ER BB K
T. Birtell 5 4 3
3 2 5
Auto Body IP H R
ER BB K
Guzman
Luna Jr. 4
1 6
3 12
4 10
3 5
2 5
0
Totals 5 9 16
13 7 5
WP-- T. Birtell (n/a)
LP-- Guzman (8-2)
2B: B- E. Birtell, T. Birtell, Carter; A-
Guzman 2.
HR: B- E. Birtell, T. Birtell.
SB: B- Holgate, Swystun, Mills.
