Delano locks up overall top seed in Babe Ruth World Series

The Delano Dirtbags of California dominated Pennsylvania 10-1 on Thursday at Cape Central High School to exit Pool A on top with a 4-0 record.

The Dirtbags will now enter bracket play as the tournament’s top seed after beating Connecticut on Monday, Asia Pacific on Tuesday and the Squirrels on Wednesday.

Delano entered the tournament with a bit of a chip on their shoulders.

“A lot of people didn't think we were gonna be in this place,” Emilio Martinez said.

Martinez would use the doubters as motivation as he tossed six innings allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four.

Following up Martinez’s masterful pitching performance was Eli Crespi who had two hits and drove in three runs in the win.

“I would say this was my best game,” Crespi said. “I know my first game I was 2-for-2, so I just wanted to just stay consistent.”

Martinez wasn’t the only member of the Dirtbags who felt they were being doubted by people back home.

“Coming out of California, a lot of teams kind of looked down on us and didn't think we could do it,” Jeremiah Guerra said, “but we're here and we did it.”

Crespi said while there may be outside noise, the group has a lot of confidence and their success isn’t a shock to them.

“I don't think it was a surprise,” Crespi said. “I think we went in there with a lot of confidence. At Super Regionals, we had a lot of confidence going in there. I feel like this team is a pretty stacked team. I feel like there's chemistry between us.”

As the Dirtbags look ahead to bracket play, their goal is simple: win the thing.

Bracket play begins for Delano at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 18 when they play the winner of the 2:30 p.m. game at Capaha Field.

“It would definitely shock a lot of people back home,” Crespi said, “but I think having the tag that we won the Babe Ruth World Series definitely means a lot.”