The Hollister American 9-10
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A
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All Stars defeated their Hollister National counterparts 5-1 on
Friday night to set up a championship game at 10:30 am today at
American Field in Salinas.
The Hollister American 9-10 “A” All Stars defeated their Hollister National counterparts 5-1 on Friday night to set up a championship game at 10:30 am today at American Field in Salinas.
“Oh yeah. We’re really excited,” said Hollister American manager Robert Fabing after his team’s win. “Whomever shows up a 10:30 in the morning is going to win.”
The teams have split their two games in the District 9 tournament, with the Nationals winning 1-0 last weekend to send the American squad to the loser’s bracket, where it beat Ferrasci of Salinas, 8-2, on Thursday. Hollister American’s win meant it would have to beat the Nationals twice to claim the district title.
Hollister American got off to a fast start Friday as leadoff hitter Daniel Gonzales hit an infield single and advanced to second on an errant throw. After a groundout by Cody Cameron moved Gonzales to third, Robert Soto doubled to the right-center field wall to drive in Gonzales. Cody Asp followed with an infield single and stole second to put runners at second and third with one out.
Dylan Yamasaki laced a two-run triple to put American up 3-0 after a half-inning. American starter Austin Wahl struck out two in the bottom of the first to dispatch the Nationals.
Starter Dylan Lomanto, who threw a complete game for the Nationals, held the Americans scoreless in the second inning. After inducing a groundout and another infield single by Gonzales, Lomanto struck out the next batter before Soto hit his second consecutive double. Center fielder Cade Vallejo relayed the ball from the fence to shortstop Cody Freitas, who fired home to catch Gonzales at the plate and end the threat.
Wahl retired the side in the bottom of the second for Hollister American, which plated another run in the top of the third when Tony Diaz reached on an error, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on another error to push the score to 4-0.
Wahl got two quick outs in the bottom of the third before back-to-back singles by Tyler Fhurong and Lomanto gave the Nationals hope. Wahl, however, got the next batter to fly out to right field to end the inning.
Cameron reached on an infield single in the top of the fourth, but Lomanto quashed that threat to keep his team within four runs. Wahl continued to pitch efficiently in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff walk to Vallejo, Wahl got the next three batters to ground out.
In the top of the fifth, Cody Asp led off with a single but was caught stealing for the first out. Yamasaki doubled to the wall and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tony Diaz grounded out to second to score Yamasaki and increase Hollister American’s lead to 5-0.
After the first batter in the bottom of the fifth flew out for Hollister National, Matt Hawk walked before getting out on a fielder’s choice. A walk to Lomanto and a single by Freitas loaded the bases. Wahl was replaced by reliever Yamasaki, who got a full-count strikeout to close out the inning for the American team.
Lomanto had a one-two-three inning in the top of the sixth for the Nationals, who finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Andrew Breen led off with a double and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Breen scored on a passed ball to put the score at 5-1 in favor of American, but Tony Diaz struck out the next two batters looking to end the game.
With the teams set to battle a third time with the district championship on the line, Fabing was especially pleased the title game would pit two Hollister teams against each other.
“We’ll go out there (and) have fun,” Fabing said. “Throw all the cards on the table and we’ll see what happens.”
NOTES: A Hollister team will win the District 9 title for the eighth time in nine years, with 2001 being the only year since 1998 that a local team hasn’t won the tournament. During that time, Hollister National has won four titles–including last year’s championship–and Hollister American has won three titles. To reach Salinas American field, take Highway 101 south through Salinas, exit at Airport Boulevard, turn left at the stop sign by the Salinas Airport, and you’ll see the field on your left just past the golf course.
