Hollister American 9-10s thumps Scotts Valley in section opener;
10-run outburst in first keys 12-1 victory
San Jose – The only thing hotter than the sweltering heat at the start of Thursday’s Section 5 opener was Hollister American’s 9-10s offense. Buoyed by their district championship the week before, the Hollister American All Stars put up 10 runs on the scoreboard before Scotts Valley even came to bat, spearheading their eventual 12-1 victory at Union Little League field.
“Whenever we come into the games, we’re pumped up,” catcher Daniel Gonzales said. “We just wanted to score in the first inning and that’s what we did.”
Did they ever.
Scotts Valley promptly retired two of Hollister American’s first three batters as players and fans baked in the hot sun, but that third out proved most elusive for the District 39 champion. Hollister American first baseman Cody Asp began the rally with an infield single, and then, one batter later, Tony Diaz drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the game’s first run.
Left fielder Jordan Lopes followed with a two-run single to center, and then third baseman Austin Wahl delivered the big blow, crushing a double to the left-center wall that scored Dylan Yamasaki and Diaz to give Hollister American a 5-0 lead.
Robert Soto, Hollister American’s starting pitcher, and Yamasaki also contributed two-run hits before Scotts Valley could finally get out of the inning, trailing 10-0.
“Well, we knew we had a chance to dominate,” said Lopes with a smile, “so we just came out and did our stuff.”
With the victory, Hollister American earned a day off today. The team returns to the field Saturday with a semifinal contest against tonight’s Briarwood – Cambrian winner.
“It’s only one game now,” cautioned manager Robert Fabing. “We’re in a good spot in the bracket, (but) that was only one game.”
If Hollister American continues swinging the bat the way it did Thursday, the team should be in good shape to challenge for the section title. The team pounded out 10 hits in the abbreviated four-inning contest and also drew six walks.
Shellshocked by the runs that just kept flowing in the first frame, Scotts Valley committed five errors in the inning and surrendered four walks. Hollister American’s opponent rebounded to allow just four hits the rest of the way and two unearned runs in the fourth.
Scotts Valley loaded the bases in the second and third innings, but Hollister American relievers Marcos Perez and Yamasaki worked out of the jams to only allow one run between them. Despite allowing an unearned run, Perez struck out the side in the second. Scotts Valley again threatened in the third with a hit batter, an infield error and a walk, but Yamasaki reached back for a strikeout for the second out, and then induced a fielder’s choice to get his team out of the inning unscathed.
With four pitchers each throwing one inning in the opener, Hollister American looks to be in good shape for the rest of this double-elimination tournament.
“Throwing one inning saves my arm and helps the other pitchers, too, because we can pitch more games, throw more innings,” Soto said.
Nine different Hollister American All Stars recorded hits, and the team spread its 1two runs across nine players.
“We have a really good defense, but our hitting is what keeps us going,” explained Wahl, who finished 2-for-2 with a double, 2 RBIs and two runs.
Gonzales powered a double into the left-center gap in the fourth, driving in Lopes and Wahl to finish the scoring.
Asked what the team needs to do to continue its winning ways, Soto said, “We need to hammer the ball and we need our defense to make outs and our pitchers to throw strikes.”
Added Lopes: “We’re all one unit. That’s why we do what we do.”
In Thursday’s other opener, Briarwood overwhelmed Alum Rock 10-0 in four innings.
With Hollister American set to play a tough opponent, be it Briarwood or Cambrian, in its next game, Fabing said his players shouldn’t get complacent.
“We’ve got a big challenge to play on Saturday,” Hollister American’s manager said. “We’ve got a lot of games to win.”
Saturday’s contest starts at 1pm at San Jose’s Union Little League field.
Contact Scott Campbell at [email protected].
