Perez, Anaya power Makina Select to great start at 10U Summer Bash

By DN WRITING STAFF | August 11, 2024

Landon Genao follows through on single during big first inning for Makina Select 10U. 

By Sean Reilly

Evan Perez made his first game at Diamond Nation a memorable one. 

Perez pitched a three-inning no-hitter, and also walked twice and accounted for two runs when Makina Select 10U opened play at the 10U Summer Bash with a 14-0 win over the Eastchester Eagles on Saturday in Flemington. 

“I was throwing fastballs, with a little bit of sliders and some change ups here and there,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve played here, and it’s really cool.” 

While Perez was the pitching star for Makina Select, Leandro Anaya stood out with his bat. He hit a two-run inside-the-park home run as part of an eight-run first inning, walked later in the frame, and hit a solo inside-the-park homer in the bottom of the third as Makina Select scored six more runs to close out the game via the mercy rule. 

“I wished they went over the fence,” he said with a laugh. “It was great to help the team, and for us to win the first game.” 

It was all part of a great day at ‘The Nation’ for Makina Select, which is based out of the Ironbound section of Newark. Its second pool play contest followed immediately after, and the result was a 10-0 victory over RCS Warpath. As a result of its 2-0 showing with a 24-0 run differential, Makina clinched the No. 1 seed for the five-team playoffs on Sunday.

Evan Perez, who pitched a three-inning no-hitter, catches pop up in front of the mound. 

Perez walked the first batter he faced, Timmy Timlin of Eastchester, in the top of the first. He rebounded with a strikeout looking, pop up out to himself, and another strikeout looking. 

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Perez says. “I was kind of mad after the last pitch on that walk, but then I went back to it.” 

Makina Select then went to work in both quick and significant fashion in the bottom of the frame to pull away from its New York opponent. 

Rui Gutierrez led off with a triple to the left-field corner. Jaden Rodriguez followed with a RBI double to center. After a ground out advanced him to third, Anaya lined a ball past the first baseman and then the right fielder for a home run and 3-0 lead. 

“It felt good to get a hit like that in the first inning,” he said. “I just saw the pitch and swung at it.” 

Xander Figueroa followed with a single to center, and Perez drew a walk. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Elian Camilo had an RBI groundout to third base. 

Daniel Valdes followed with an RBI single to right field for a 5-0 advantage. Landon Genao also singled to right field, and Guitierrez was safe on an error to load the bases. 

Rodriguez was up next, and worked out an RBI walk. After a pitching change, A.J. Tapia hit a single to first base that brought in the seventh and eighth runs.

The other runs came in the third inning.

Leandro Anaya approaches third on the second of two inside-the-park HRs for Makina Select.

Guitierrez led off with a walk, and Rodriguez hit an RBI double. Tapia was retired on a ground ball that caromed off of first base, but Rodriguez kept running past third and scored for a 10-0 lead. 

Anaya followed with his second home run, this one to left center. 

Figueroa singled to center, Perez walked, and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. A wild pitch scored another run, and Valdes had an RBI groundout, compounded by an error, to score the 14th run to end the game. 

Eight of the nine batters for Makina Select had at least one hit, with Rodriguez, Anaya and Figueroa finishing with two. 

Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with a walk in the win over RCS Warpath. He hit a RBI single for a 4-0 lead in the second and two-run triple for a 9-0 advantage in the third.

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