The Little League 9-10s Hollister All-Stars advanced to the
NorCal Division II tournament after knocking off Serra 13-6
Wednesday to win the Section 5 championship.
The Little League 9-10s Hollister All-Stars advanced to the NorCal Division II tournament after knocking off Serra 13-6 Wednesday to win the Section 5 championship.
Things didn’t start off well for the All-Stars. After Hollister’s starting pitcher struggled with control early, Serra jumped out to a 6-1 lead after two innings.
But things quickly started to turn Hollister’s favor.
“I think they started to plan ahead and prepare for the next game,” Hollister manager Blair Biersdorff said.
Hollister finally starting gaining momentum in the top of the third inning. After Hollister got two runners on, and Serra made a pitching change, Javier Valdez hit a three-run home run to cut the Serra lead to two.
“It was a big hit,” Biersdorff said. “It emotionally got us going. The kids started to believe.”
New Hollister pitcher Anthony Espinoza threw three scoreless innings to stop Serra from scoring. He only allowed four baserunners.
“He pitched beautifully,” Biersdorff said. “He was lights out.”
The Hollister defense supported Espinoza thanks to the slick fielding of Nathaniel Garcia, who saved some runs with his glove.
“He made some good plays all night,” Biersdorff said.
Hollister exploded for nine more runs during the last the last four innings, to win 13-6. Valdez added two more RBIs in the game, to lead the way for Hollister.
The team will open the Division II tournament Saturday at Los Cerros School in San Ramon. Hollister’s first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Section 4 champions.
