Capitalizing on walks and costly errors by Los Altos, Hollister
came through in the clutch and managed to leapfrog the District 44
representative in the fifth inning en route to a 5-4 victory on
Wednesday night to claim the Section 5 title and advance to the
Division II tournament in Sacramento this weekend.
SUNNYVALE
The Hollister Junior League All-Stars connected on just three hits Wednesday night in the Section 5 championship against Los Altos.
And it was enough.
Capitalizing on walks and costly errors by Los Altos, Hollister came through in the clutch and managed to leapfrog the District 44 representative in the fifth inning en route to a 5-4 victory on Wednesday night to claim the Section 5 title and advance to the Division II tournament in Sacramento this weekend.
It was the second straight game in which the local Junior League All-Stars not only matched up against Los Altos, but also the second straight game in which Hollister secured the lead for good in the fifth inning.
The two teams met up on Monday in the semifinal round and Los Altos carried a 3-2 lead into the fifth in that game. But with the bases loaded, Cody Freitas connected on a two-RBI single that put Hollister ahead for good.
On Wednesday, Los Altos again led by a narrow 4-2 margin entering the bottom half of the fifth when Hollister awoke to the tune of three runs.
Daniel Gonzales walked to start the frame, then advanced to third base when Josh George, who had two of Hollister’s three hits in the game, hit a wall-ball double. Freitas then, like he did on Monday, smacked a hard-hit ball up the middle that ricocheted off the second baseman and into center field, scoring both Gonzales and George to knot the game at 4-all.
Freitas then moved into scoring position by stealing second base when Robert Soto’s slow-roller to the shortstop resulted in a throwing error at first. Freitas advanced to third base as a result and beat the throw home to put Hollister up for good by a 5-4 margin.
Los Altos threatened in the sixth when starting pitcher Jordan Lopes (5IP, 2H, 4R, 2K, 6BB) left the game after exhausting his pitch count, leaving a 2-0 count and a runner on first for relief pitcher Greg Steinbeck.
But on the first pitch from Steinbeck, a Los Altos batter dropped down a bunt. The catcher Gonzales threw to second to get the lead runner, though, then over to first for the double play.
Steinbeck then struck out the side in the seventh to close out the victory for Hollister.
“All tournament the kids have been coming through in the clutch,” said Hollister manager Todd Freitas, who also noted the 6-4-3 double play that Hollister turned to end the third inning.
Los Altos actually found the scoreboard first in the opening frame, but Hollister reclaimed the lead in the home half with a pair of runs.
Gonzales started the inning with a walk and George sacrificed him over to second with a bunt. A pass ball and a walk to Freitas made it a first-and-third situation, when Freitas’ ensuing steal attempt resulted in a pickle. Gonzales broke for home on the play and the catcher dropped the ball, allowing Gonzales to score.
Freitas later scored in the inning on a wild pitch.
Los Altos tied the game in the third and added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to grab a 4-2 lead, setting up Hollister’s come-from-behind home half of the inning.
“We’re getting some huge, two-outs-with-runners-in-scoring-position hits,” Freitas said.
“We’re living on the edge. We’re getting walks. We’re wearing pitches. We’re winning the games, but as a team we’re not hitting yet.”
Freitas would like to see Hollister’s fifth-inning play carry over to the remaining five innings, especially as the team moves forward to the next level of play.
The local Junior League All-Stars, now representing both District 9 and Section 5, will now play in the NorCal Division II Tournament on Saturday. Hollister will square off against the Section 3 representative at American River College in Sacramento.
First pitch is 8 p.m.
LA — 101 020 0 — 4 2 2
HL — 200 030 X — 5 3 0
