Pinal Today

Vinnie LaGatta hit a home run in the bottom of the 15th inning to lead Central Arizona College to a 3-2 victory over Cochise in Game 3 of the Division I, Region 1 tournament earlier this month.

LaGatta entered the game as a pinch hitter and drove a 2-0 pitch over the right-field fence to end the game. 

“It was a crazy game, and we got it done,” LaGatta said in a story by PinalCentral. “That’s my first walk-off home run, and there’s nothing like it. It beats all, for sure.”

Neither team could manage to get a runner into scoring position until Cochise put a runner on third base with two outs in the top of the 15th inning. Damian Garcia walked and advanced on a single by Cameron Crotte, but Garcia was stranded when Central Arizona pitcher Tyler Woessner struck out Alan Ochoa to end the inning. LaGatta then led off the bottom half with his game-winning home run.

“This was an unbelievable game, one I won’t forget for a long time,” Central Arizona coach Anthony Gilich said. “I’m happy we came out on top.”

LaGatta got ahead in the count by taking two curveballs, which had him expecting a fastball while ahead 2-0.

“I was the first batter of the inning so I was trying to battle, get on base and find a way for our team to get the rally going,” LaGatta said. “Then he threw me a fastball middle in and I just went with it. It was my best swing, for sure, definitely one of a kind.”

Woessner picked up the victory in relief, but lefthander Drew Sommers kept the game even by pitching 7 1/3 innings in relief, facing 25 batters. He struck out 12 and retired 12 in a row before he was pulled with two outs in the 15th inning.

“Sure, I was getting tired out there. My mouth was dry and everything,” he said. “But you have to push through it. I was calm and relaxed. You turn off the brain and do what you do best – throw strikes.”

Central Virginia advanced to the double-elimination West District tournament, the winner of which will move on to the NJCAA World Series.