Although the all-star postseason may be wrapping up for most
teams in the area, one team with local ties will get its shot at a
national title this week.
The Watsonville Aggies, which include Hollister’s Kyle Zozaya,
Justin Schlie and Ricky Garcia, will travel to Newark, Ohio, for
the Senior Babe Ruth 16- to 18-year-old World Series on Tuesday
after claiming the Pacific Southwest Regional title last week.
HOLLISTER
Although the all-star postseason may be wrapping up for most teams in the area, one team with local ties will get its shot at a national title this week.
The Watsonville Aggies, which include Hollister’s Kyle Zozaya, Justin Schlie and Ricky Garcia, will travel to Newark, Ohio, for the Senior Babe Ruth 16- to 18-year-old World Series on Tuesday after claiming the Pacific Southwest Regional title last week.
Zozaya, Schlie and Garcia, each of whom start for Watsonville at catcher, third base and center field, respectively, previously played on the San Benito High baseball team, with the latter two having just recently graduated. Zozaya, meanwhile, currently plays for San Jose City College.
“We have kids from all over,” Watsonville manager Gary Bertone said. “We have a wide range (to choose from).”
In addition to San Benito County, the Aggies’ roster is said to include players who hail from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, as well as three players who are from Arizona.
“It’s not a problem,” Bertone said. “We all practice at the high school in Watsonville.”
Representing the Pacific Southwest, Watsonville will open the nine-day, 10-team World Series on Thursday at The Babe Ruth National Complex against Gulf Coast, Ala., which is representing the Southeast region.
“It’s gonna be a challenge,” Bertone said. “You’re playing against nine other teams from across the country, so it should be interesting.”
Scouting the opposition is understandably difficult for Watsonville, although opposing teams are in a similar situation — Watsonville hasn’t advanced to the Senior Babe Ruth World Series since 2005.
The powerhouse team to emerge from the Pacific Southwest in years past has been San Gabriel Valley. Although Modesto represented the region in 2008, San Gabriel Valley, which is located in Arcadia, advanced to the World Series in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
“They’re usually good every year,” Bertone said of San Gabriel Valley, which nearly advanced to the World Series this year as well. But Watsonville defeated the Southern California power by a 10-2 margin during last week’s Senior Babe Ruth Pacific Southwest Regional Championship in Watsonville.
“We played a good game against them,” Bertone added.
Playing as the host team, Watsonville opened the tournament with a 5-3 victory over San Gabriel Valley as well, then defeated East Sacramento 12-1 in the quarterfinals before topping Hanford 8-5 in the semifinals.
Said Bertone, “We’re playing good as a team.”
Watsonville will play in four games during pool play to open the World Series in Ohio. Following its contest against Gulf Coast, Ala., the Aggies will square off against Ottumwa, Iowa (Midwest Plains) on Friday, will play Bloomfield, N.J. (Mid-Atlantic) on Saturday, and will wrap up pool play on Sunday against the host team, Licking County, Ohio.
The top three teams from two different divisions will then advance into a single-elimination bracket, with the World Series champion being decided on Thursday, Aug. 12.
