An eight run fifth inning led the East Mesa Yankees to an 11-2 victory over the AZ Titans in the 13uAA championship game of the 2010 USSSA Spring Fling baseball tournament at Big League Dreams.

The Yankees trailed 2-0 after three innings but scored three runs in the fourth and then exploded for eight in the fifth. At one point in the fifth, 11 straight Yankees reached base.

“Once we started hitting, it was contagious,” coach Dominick Calise said.

The fifth inning was highlighted by Tristyn Robillard’s two RBI double.

Andrew Peterson and Jonny Galetti each went 2 for 4, and Anthony Calise went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Devon Ketterling, who was pitching for the first time, gave up two early runs but settled down to retire six of the final eight batters and receive the win. Ketterling was also 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two stolen bases.

The championship was the third game of the day for the Yankees. Coach Calise admitted his team was tired, but added that they “dug deep and pulled through.”