Hollister faces a rematch of game 1 with Scotts Valley
The Hollister American 11-year old All-Star team split their games in the Section 5 tournament in Hollister this weekend. Hollister will play Scotts Valley tonight at 7 p.m. in order to have a chance to move on to the championship game.
Hollister opened with an 8-6 win over the same Scotts Valley team but then lost 4-1 to Lincoln Glen on Sunday.
Both Hollister and Lincoln Glen had five hits and had an error on Sunday. But Lincoln Glen was able to capitalize early, scoring a run in the first off of a hit batter, a single and a couple passed balls. Lincoln Glen scored runs in the third and in the fifth innings.
Eddie Vargas threw all five innings and didn’t give up any walks. Vargas has been rock solid offensively for Hollister in the Section 5 tournament. On Saturday, he went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and on Sunday was 2-for-3.
Andre Lucas was 2-for-3 on Sunday, and Jake Hunter also had a double in the fourth inning. But Hunter was left stranded after the two-out hit.
Hollister scored its only run in the sixth inning after Vargas had a hit and moved around on a wild pitch and a groundout. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Hunter
Jacob Cabrall, who caught on Sunday, pitched just a third of an inning on Saturday and had to leave due to a sore arm. Nick Hernandez came in and did a good job in his emergency starting roll. He was relieved in the fourth inning by Hunter.
On Saturday, Hollister went up 2-0 after Vargas doubled to center field. Enrique Lopez had a hit to bring him in and then scored on a ball hit through the middle by Hunter.
After Scotts Valley scored two runs in the second to tie it up, Hollister answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to hold a 3-2 edge.
Scotts Valley again tied the game with a run in the third. But in the bottom of the inning, Hollister caught a couple breaks. Scotts Valley had an overthrow on a hit by Lopez, allowing a run to score, and then tried to get the lead runner at second base on a ball hit by Hunter, but the ball sailed into the outfield.
Conner Stevens grounded out to bring in a run, and Ryan Jimenez hit into a fielder’s choice to bring in another run and make it 6-3.
In the fourth inning, Scotts Valley hit a ball deep to center field. Mark Nakata looked to have a good read on it, but the ball just tipped off his glove. He still almost got an out at second base, but the umpire ruled that the ball was bobbled.
Although Scotts Valley closed the deficit to 6-4, Nakata made a couple nice catches to end the inning. He received hugs from his coaches and congratulations from his teammates as he headed off the field.
Third baseman Kallin Coretta made a nice play to snag a slow roller in the first inning and throw out a runner at first.
