All the hard work for the past three years on the Veteran’s Park
Little League fields has paid off. Larry Deaton, District 9
Administrator, awarded the Hollister Little League the District 9
Majors Tournament of Champions.
All the hard work for the past three years on the Veteran’s Park Little League fields has paid off. Larry Deaton, District 9 Administrator, awarded the Hollister Little League the District 9 Majors Tournament of Champions. The 24-team tournament, which features the first and second place teams of most every league in the district in a single-elimination winner-take-all, kicks off this Friday and runs through Thursday, June 26 when the chamionship game is played at 6 p.m.
Representing Hollister Little League will be four teams – The Orioles (20-0) and A’s (15-5) of the American League and the Giants (18-2) and Braves (15-5) of the National League. Local Little League fans can see all four teams without conflict in their opening round games. The Orioles jumpstart the festivities when they encounter North County at 5 p.m. on Field 2. The Giants are immediately after that, taking on Soledad Friday at 7 p.m., also on Field 2. Then on Saturday morning, the Braves and A’s meet on Field 2 at 9 a.m.
“It will be bittersweet for the winner,” said A’s manager Steven Ferranti of Saturday’s battle with another Hollister team. “I know their coaches and players and wish them luck. May the best team win.”
“That’s too bad a Hollister team will go out in the first round,” said Orioles manager Steve Gessell. “I think the three Hollister teams remaining after the first round can go far in the tournament. We expect to meet the Giants in the semifinals.”
Gessell has reason to be confident. His club has yet to taste defeat and ended the season with a resounding 22-1 victory over the San Juan Yankees. He’s led by 12 year-old hurler Steven Cabral and 11 year-old pitchers Steven Gessell and Kyle Zozaya. Adrian Garca, 12, has been a fixture at second base for the Orioles.
The team is balanced in
age with four 12’s, four 11’s and four 10’s.
“Everyone has risen at certain times to win games,” said Steve Gessell. “We’ve had 10 year-olds batting in the ninth spot of the order coming through with two-run singles to win the game.”
In 1999, Gessell coached a White Sox team which went 18-2, losing its 14th and 20th games.
“That team was older,” said Gessell when asked to compare teams. “It had Justin Patton and Seth Hudson. It was more mature. To go 20-0 with four 10 year-olds is saying something. This team has more depth than that team. All the kids have done a great job this year. We’re ready to put on a show. We’re peaking at the right time.”
Ferranti’s A’s are spearheaded by P/1B Justin Terrill, one of the hardest throwers in the league, and slugger Alfonzo Reyes. Reyes has six homers, which leads both leagues.
“Ten of our 12 players made an all-star team,” said Ferranti. “We lost our last two games because I was letting other kids pitch because we need a lot of arms at TOC’s.”
The Giants – managed by Anthony Alvarez – may be the sleeper team of the tournament. It’s a good, well-rounded team, but might not get the recognition it deserves.
“Our defense is solid,” said Alvarez. “And our pitching has been the backbone of the team. Our hitting has been coming together lately. We have a good chance to win it.”
Alvarez wouldn’t commit his pitcher Friday, but he admitted he’s “working his pitching” his club meets the Orioles in the semis. His club is riding a major hot streak right now, winning 14 straight games. The Giants were a perfect 10-0 in the second half.
Brett Furtado is his club’s ace, followed by Ryan Whiteside, Chad Whitehead, Anthony Alvarez and Justin Schlie, the only 11 year-old of the group.
The Braves are managed by Jeff Palermo and their key players are Nick Acosta, Matt McGill and Derek Palermo. They also gave the Giants their only two losses of the season – both were 2-1 decisions and came in the first half. That shows something about their talent.
“We have the four best teams in the tournament,” said Hollister Little League President Craig Vallejo. “They’re four quality teams and all are well-coached.”
“I don’t make predictions,” said Deaton. “I only make predictions when I know one of the teams isn’t showing up.”
The bottom line is that Hollister Little League can thank Deaton for blowing the league’s horn as far as a facility goes. Deaton first lobbied the bigwigs in San Jose in late January to hold the Section 5 9-10 All-Star Tournament at Vet’s Park. That tournament follows the District 9 Tourney. Then, the Majors TOC’s went to Hollister a month later.
“It gives Hollister a chance to showcase their fields,” said Deaton, who has been the District 9 Administrator the past 17 years. “They have lights, which allows me a chance to eat up some games.”
“Hollister has the best fields I’ve ever seen in the district,” added Steve Gessell. “These are the best Little League fields in the Central Coast. Our Board has done a great job to fix this park up. No other league’s board has done the kind of work our Board has.”
And teams, which will come a great distance to play baseball, will be treated like guests. Hollister Little League will feed each player a hot dog, bag of chips and a soft drink after each game.
“It’s coming out of our pocket,” said Vallejo.
And Vallejo stated each field will be proper manicured between each game.
The league has spent approximately $150-170 thousand dollars on upgrading with an estimated $100 thousand dollars of donations. Now it is being rewarded.
“People will be given the opportunity to see this new ballpark,” said Mets coach Dale Barnes, who has coached in the league the past 22 years.
Play ball.
