After going 18-2 inside Hollister Little League majors play, the Hollister Nationals went 4-0 over the weekend to win the California District 9 Tournament of Champions at North Monterey County High on Saturday.
The Nationals opened the tournament with a 17-1 victory over Gonzales. They followed the opening win with a 15-0 victory over Salinas and a 14-0 win over Hartnell to enter the District 9 championship game. Against Soledad, Hollister’s Nick Christian threw a no-hitter and Ryan Quinby belted a home run to lead the Nationals to a 9-1 victory.
Hollister allowed only two runs in four games during the TOC tournament.
TOC Minor
Following in the major team’s championship footsteps, the Hollister Pirates won the minor division TOC at Gonzales High on Saturday, beating Continental 7-4.
To reach the championship game, the Pirates defeated North County 8-0, National 11-1 and Atlantic 10-9.
Hollister Heat 10u
The 10-and-under Hollister Heat team’s season-long improvement reached its highest peak over the weekend, as the travel softball team won its first tournament of the season. The Heat went 5-0 and won their first championship of the season in Salinas. The tournament improves their overall record to 11-6.
They were dominant in the four-team tournament. The Heat opened with a 6-4 victory over Silicon Valley Glory on Saturday.
The Heat then defeated the Almaden Lightening 7-2 and Half Moon Bay 6-2.
On Sunday, the Heat advanced to the championship game with a 11-2 win over Silicon Valley. Against Almaden in the championship game, the Heat came from behind in the fourth inning to win 10-2.
“The girls did a great job,” manager Andrew Barragan said. “They are playing really well.”
Kalyi Dickens got the big hit for the Heat in the game. Down 2-1 with the bases load in the fourth inning, Dickens hit a inside-the-park grand slam that rolled to the wall.
Pitcher Drew Barragan threw well for Hollister. She completed 10 innings and allowed only one run over the weekend.
“The team is really improving,” Barragan said. “We are getting a little more discipline at the plate and playing good defense.”
The championship comes a week after the Heat went 3-2 and took third place in a 10-team tournament in Scott’s Valley.
The Heat’s travel season continues on June 30 in Carmel.
Hollister Heat 14u
Outscoring teams 43-7 in San Jose over the weekend, the 14-and-under Hollister Heat were crowned the champions of their season’s first tournament.
The Heat started slow, though, defeating Redwood City 5-3 in the first game.
The Heat followed with a 12-0 win over the Morgan Hill Spirit and a 17-1 win over the Belmont Blast.
The Heat advanced to the Sunday championship with a close 3-2 win over the Almaden Lightening. In the championship game, the Heat played a rematch against the Blast and survived 6-1.
Over the weekend, pitcher Victoria Silva faced 99 batters and struck out 24 with only four walks. In the championship game, Silva was in “command of all her pitches,” head coach John Young said.
“She was lights out,” he said.
On offense, Barbara Botelho hit .625 to carry the offensive load. Jae Intravia and Casey Lopez led the way in the championship game for the Heat.
“I think they all did a great job as they prepare of the next level,” Young said. “They did better than I expected.”
Hollister Heat 8u
In their first tournament of the year on June 9, the 8-and-under Hollister Heat softball team finished 2-2 to place third out of four teams.
The Heat advanced to the championship game on Sunday with a 3-1 win over North Monterey County.
In the championship game, the Heat took a first inning lead but couldn’t hold on and lost 7-4 to the Cabrillo Crushers.
Harlie Craig and Mia Villegas threw well for the Heat over the weekend.
