Hollister needs to win two games for championship
The Hollister American All-Stars defeated Scotts Valley for the second time in the District 5 tournament in Hollister.
The 4-1 victory puts Hollister in the championship game tonight against Lincoln Glen.
With one loss, Hollister needs to win twice for the title and the right to move on to the Division 2 championship in Cupertino.
Jacob Cabral was scheduled to start the game for Hollister.
But he had to be scratched before the game started because of a sore arm. He played one inning at first base but then was pulled to avoid any additional stress on the arm.
Cabral started the first game of the tournament but had to leave after a third of an inning.
Enrique Lopez made the most of the last-minute start. He threw all six innings, giving up just four hits, striking out eight and walking two.
Hollister scored two runs in the first inning. Andre Lucas reached base on an error.
Kallin Corotto bunted him over to second base. Corotto was thrown out in a close play at first, but a throw from the first baseman back to second went all the way to the wall, and Lucas was able to score.
Eddie Vargas drew a walk. And Jake Hunter and Conner Stevens singled to bring him in.
In the second inning, Hollister scored another run on a leadoff walk by Anthony Cecena and then a couple fielder’s choices. Lopez brought in the run with a single.
Vargas had a double but was tagged out at the plate.
In the third inning, Hunter drew a leadoff walk.
The catcher tried to back-door him at first, but the throw got away, allowing Hunter to go to second. He went to third on a wild pitch.
Conner Stevens hit a soft ball in the infield, but Scotts Valley went home to try to prevent Hunter, who had a good jump off third, from scoring, allowing Hollister to put two runners on.
Hunter scored the final run on an unsuccessful steal of second base by Stevens.
Scotts Valley scored its only run on back-to-back doubles in the third inning.
