The road to Williston, North Dakota, site of the the World
Series for the Babe Ruth League 15 year-old All-Star Tournament is
a long journey for the San Benito County 15’s.
The road to Williston, North Dakota, site of the the World Series for the Babe Ruth League 15 year-old All-Star Tournament is a long journey for the San Benito County 15’s. The SBCBRL 15 year-old All-Stars could have taken a tiny step toward Williston if they had gotten by a fundamentally sound Modesto squad Tuesday night at Vets Park in a District 1 Tournament game.
The boys from Modesto, buoyed by a big fifth inning, held off the SBC 15’s 6-5 to advance to Thursday’s championship game.
The local nine must defeat Manteca in an elimination game tonight at 6 p.m., then sweep a doubleheader against Modesto Thursday night to earn a berth to the Central State Tournament, which will be held in Madera starting July 11.
“I’m confident we can get to Thursday,” said SBC 15’s manager Scott Flaherty. Whether we can beat Modesto twice, I don’t know.”
“I haven’t seen Manteca yet, but I have a strong feeling we’ll see Hollister Thursday night,” said Modesto manager Scott Blom. “It was a good game between two good teams.”
This game bordered on the surreal, mainly because of three unorthodox double plays completed by the SBC 15’s to keep them in the game.
-Modesto had two runs in already in the bottom of the first and had the bases loaded when SBC 15 star Karson Klauer, who was playing shortstop, fielded a ball a couple of steps from second. Instead of stepping on the bag himself and throwing to first, Klauer shoveled the ball precariously to second baseman Brendon Flaherty, who threw out the Modesto runner at first for the bang-bang, bang-bang DP.
“I was caught on my heels,” said Klauer as to why he didn’t take it himself.
-With Modesto’s Jeff Woodbridge on at second and with one out, Chris Avey hit a deep fly to center. SBC 15 center fielder Jeffrey Weltz backpedaled to make a nice catch as Woodbridge tagged and went to third. The Hollister middle infield spied Woodbridge leaving early and appealed. Woodbridge was ruled out and the inning was over.
-Sean Bracken began the fourth inning with a single off SBC starter Kyle Ferguson. Ferguson struck out the next batter, then Avey lined a threatening ball to right field. SBC right fielder Dean Wilkens had a late break, then dove for a shoestring catch. Wilkens recovered to throw to first to double up Bracken as Anthony Vasquez contributed the stretch.
The unique web gems were enough to keep it a 2-0 Modesto lead going into the top of the fifth. Modesto starter Dirk Venn had done a more than competent job of holding the potent SBC 15’s bats in check. Venn, using a wicked curveball, fanned six hitters and yielded a hit an inning through the first four innings.
However, in the top of the fifth, he faltered enough for the SBC 15’s to tie the game. Weltz fisted a pitch into left for a single. Flaherty got down 0-2, then skied a single which dropped in left. Weltz alertly saw no one covering third and he gladly took the extra base. Ferguson, who nearly put one out for a double in the third inning off Venn, belted a long fly ball to left field. The Modesto left fielder gave it a try, but the ball sailed over his head for a two-run double as Ferguson, who enjoyed a big day at the plate and an adventurous turn on the basepaths, flexed his bicep as he stood on second.
The two-run comeback was shortlived.
James Macfarlane relieved Ferguson for the SBC 15’s in the bottom of the fifth and Macfarlane was greeted by a double from pesky leadoff hitter Michael Cerda. Cerda was a real catalyst for Modesto with a double, two singles, two stolen bases and two runs scored. He also played a smooth second base.
Brett Blom’s sac bunt was mishandled for an error as all hands were safe. Macfarlane got the next batter to fly out to left for the first out of the inning. Woodbridge, the No. 4 hitter in the lineup with two hits already under his belt, surprised the SBC 15 infield by dropping a perfect bunt down the third baseline to fill the bases. Macfarlane induced a pop up out of the next batter for out No. 2.
However he walked Avey for a 3-2 Modesto lead, the second time Avey drew a base on balls with the bases loaded, giving him 2 RBI in the contest. Nick Muir, who relieved Venn in the fifth, helped himself to the pitching victory with a booming drive to right field. The ball had all the earmarks of a grand slam, but it somehow stayed in the park for a three-run double.
The SBC 15’s pecked away with two runs in the sixth. Josh Torrise’s sac fly scored Travis Ross as the throw came into the plate. The Modesto catcher attempted to Weltz trying to take second. The throw to second went into center field, allowing Geno Fata, who was on board with a walk, to come home.
The SBC 15’s nearly came all the way back in the seventh as Modesto reliever Julio Gamez wobbled a bit. Macfarlane walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Ross singled to right. Fata ripped a single to left, but a nice cover on the play by Modesto left fielder Justin Long kept the runners at each base. Wilkens singled in one run, but Gamez bowed the neck for a strikeout and a game-ending popup, stranding three SBC baserunners, earning a save.
“One bad inning hurt us,” said Klauer. “We didn’t hit the ball in the middle of our lineup, including me.”
“Modesto hit the ball well and we didn’t,” said Scott Flaherty. “We’re a much better hitting team than what we showed.”
Flaherty is leaning towards Doug Conte as tonight’s starter.
“It’s a hard decision,” said Flaherty. “Doug is chomping at the bit to pitch. I’ll sleep on it.”
Game notes: Vasquez made an outstanding catch along the first base fence in foul territory, snagging a foul popup from Venn with two runners on in the second to end the inning….Modesto catcher Kyle Miller threw out two SBC baserunners trying to steal. He threw out Weltz attempting to take second base in the third inning and Ferguson gambling for a swipe of third with two outs, also in the third….Each team had 10 hits and had one error…..Modesto American 14’s won the World Series two years ago.
SBC 000 022 1 – 5 10 1
Modesto 200 040 X – 6 10 1
Ferguson, Macfarlane (5), Klauer (6) and Bengivengo, Macfarlane (6); Venn, Muir (5), Gamez (7) and Miller. WP-Muir. LP-Macfarlane. 2B – Ferguson 2 (SBC); Cerda, Muir (M). 3 hits – Ferguson (SBC); Cerda, Woodbridge (M). 2 hits – Fata, Ross (SBC). 3 RBI – Muir (M). 2 RBI – Ferguson (SBC); Avey (M).
