Hollister advances to state playoffs
Hollister – One of Hollister’s Babe Ruth All-Star teams has won a district championship, and two others have a chance to follow suit in the next two days.
With a 16-4 victory over Tracy on Thursday, the 13-year-old All Stars completed their undefeated run through the District 1 playoffs in Lodi and advanced to the Central California state tournament.
“They’re just playing very well as a team right now,” said manager Jerry Sepulveda after his team beat Tracy for the second time in three days.
Hollister’s 14-year-old All Stars can clinch the district title with a win on Saturday, and the 15-year-olds need three wins in the next two days to clinch a state bid.
Sepulveda said just about everything was clicking for his team in the district tournament. Scoring early and often, Hollister overwhelmed another opponent Thursday.
Daniel Arevalo earned tournament MVP honors, playing shortstop and pitching, and wielding a potent bat.
Along with Arevalo, Brian Granger, Kallin Corotto and Cooper Sepulveda played major roles in the team’s offensive explosion in the second Tracy game. Oscar Ramirez delivered a clutch hit with a two-run ground-rule double.
Hollister’s manager said his team’s play in the field was just as important.
“We played very solid defense,” Sepulveda said. “Everyone did.”
Pitcher Darin Gillies staked the team to a strong start and was followed by relievers Will Cross, Trevor Fabing and Arevalo, who threw the final two innings.
Hollister finished a perfect 4-0 in the tournament, defeating Ripon 11-1, blasting O’Keefe 19-0 and setting down Tracy 12-5 on Tuesday. Sepulveda said his squad quickly adapted to playing on the road, a shift from the mostly local Little League tournaments the boys were accustomed to.
“That’s always very rewarding,” Hollister’s manager said of winning away from home. “They’re not too intimidated by too much. They’re having a really, really good time right now. They’re having fun.”
The 13-year-old All Stars will take the road again next week. Destination: Lompoc. The team will be gunning for a Central State championship in a tournament that begins on July 22.
“If they stay together again for the next tournament, focused and relaxed, play as a team as they have been, they’ll be tough to beat,” Sepulveda said. “They’ll represent themselves very well.”
Hollister’s 14-year-old All Stars enjoy a favorable position in their tournament in Stockton, having won their first three games in blowout fashion. They have two chances to secure a district championship on Saturday. The 14-year-olds already have an automatic bid into the Central California state tournament as Hollister will host that event beginning July 21.
Hollister’s 15-year-old All-Stars fell into the losers’ bracket of their tournament in Manteca with a 5-3 loss to Tracy on Wednesday. But manager Tim Furtado believed his team has what it takes to win three straight to secure the District 1 title, noting that it only allowed one hit in its loss, while committing six errors.
The 15-year-olds play the winner of Thursday’s Manteca–Lodi game at 5pm tonight.
Note: San Benito Babe Ruth has been selected to host the 14-year-old Central California state tournament this season. The tournament will decide the champion to move on to the Western Regions hosted in Sacramento. Hollister will be hosting the tournamentfrom July 21-27. A total of eight teams (six district champions from San Luis Obispo to Bakersfield to Stockton) will be participating.
