If one wanted to see all the action of Wednesday’s Hollister
National Little League Majors showdown between the frontrunning
Giants and the challenging Mets, one had better have gotten their
early.
If one wanted to see all the action of Wednesday’s Hollister National Little League Majors showdown between the frontrunning Giants and the challenging Mets, one had better have gotten their early. All of the runs were plated in the first two innings as the Giants held off the Mets 6-4 to stay unbeaten in the second half at 7-0. The Giants already have the first half title in their pocket and are all but a lock to represent the National League as the first place winner at the Tournament of Champions, which begins at Vet’s Park on June 20.
The Mets, 6-2 in the second half, put the Giants to the test with a four-run first inning. Kevin Wilson, who had three hits on the night, led off with an off-field double down the left field line. Tyler Poletti walked. as did Ramiro Chapa to jam the bases full of Mets. Alex Guajardo came within a few feet of a grand slam, but his drive down the left field line was hooked foul.
“We win the game it that stays fair,” said Mets manager Dale Barnes.
With one out and with the runners at second and third following a wild pitch, Lance Villasenor stayed back on a Ryan Whiteside curveball and stroked the ball into center for a two-run single. Whiteside walked his third batter of the frame then uncorked two wild pitches for two more runs.
Whiteside was fairly steady the rest of the way, giving up just three hits and walking three batters. He kept the Mets in check with 11 rally-killing strikeouts, including three straight in the fifth after Villasenor’s leadoff double.
The Giants, who played flawless defense, scored a run in the bottom of the first on a single by Whiteside, which scored Justin Schlie, who singled. The Mets were able to cut down Bret Furtado trying to head to third base for the final out of the inning with Schlie
touching home right before the out was recorded.
In the bottom of the second, the Giants went ahead to stay with five hits and five runs, though only three runs were earned. Mark Hurley, who had three hits himself, singled to start the inning. David Alvarez was safe on a fielding error, then came a bunt single by Steve Andrade as Mets third baseman Jonathan Rudolfs flew in like the Tasmanian Devil to try to make the catch.
Mets pitcher Diego Martinez fanned the next batter, but Anthony Alvarez ripped a double to left-center for two runs. Schlie’s infield bounder brought home another run. Furtado and Whiteside added RBI singles to cap the scoring.
Credit must also go to Chapa, a lefty with a lollipop curve, who started the bottom of the third to shut down the Giants the rest of the game on three hits. Chapa got out of a bases loaded jam in the third inning when he induced Schlie to pop out to Villasenor at short. There was a near collision on the play, but the lanky Villasenor took the ball away from the shorter Devin Bielejec, who had come over towards short from his second base position.
The Mets threatened in the sixth when Poletti reached first on an error with two out. Chapa put a charge in a Whiteside pitch with a drive to center. However, Alvarez was positioned perfectly and made the grab to end the game.
“We didn’t hit the ball when we had runners in scoring position,” said Barnes. “The Giants are a very experienced team with six 12 year-olds. That’s a big reason they’re winning.”
“Pitching is our strength,” said Giants manager Anthony Alvarez. “We have five pitchers we can use. Hitting would probably be second. The Mets are a good team and gave us a good game. Ryan did a good job of settling down after his rough start. He can throw pretty hard when he wants to.”
Game notes: Mets catcher Rolando Robles made a nice catch on a foul pop-up behind home plate from Anthony Alvarez….Alvarez was originally ruled safe on a steal attempt of second base in the first inning, but Barnes came out to have a second opinion from the plate umpire. The plate ump overruled the base ump and Alvarez was called out….In the second, Alvarez was awarded third base after it was ruled Villasenor stepped in Alvarez’ path as he was coming from second base. Barnes protested to no avail.
Little League notes: On the adjacent field, the A’s ripped the White Sox 16-0 to stay in second place in the American League. Justin Terrill clouted a two-run homer, while Alfonzo Reyes made it back-to-back with a solo shot. It was Reyes’ sixth home run of the season, which leads the league. He hit two home runs last Saturday….The TOC’s run from June 20-26 with first and second place teams from each league entered…..The Minor TOC’s are June 14-18.
Mets 400 000 – 4 5 1
Giants 150 00X – 6 8 1
Martinez, Chapa (3) and Robles; Whiteside and Schlie. WP-Whiteside. LP-Martinez. 2B – Wilson, Villasenor (M); A. Alvarez (G). 3 hits – Wilson (M); Hurley (G). 2 hits – Villasenor (M); Whiteside (G). 2 RBI – Villasenor (M); Alvarez, Whiteside (G).
