When two Hollister Little League All-Star teams face each other
in tournament play, the games usually turn out to be dandies.
When two Hollister Little League All-Star teams face each other in tournament play, the games usually turn out to be dandies. it was no exception when the Hollister American and Hollister National stars met on Saturday in the 11 year-old Tournament at Salinas-American Field.
It took a full nine innings before a single through the box by Ricky Rodriguez gave Hollister National a dramatic 5-4 triumph and a berth in the semifinals. Rodriguez’ hit came with two out and with the count full.
Hollister National plays King City this Wednesday at Hartnell Field at 5:30 p.m. Hollister American fights for survival in the double-elimination tourney tonight vs. Continental at Salinas-American Field at 5:30 p.m.
“What a game,” said Hollister National manager Manny Amaral. “It was too bad any team had to lose that game. Both teams played with a lot of heart. I have a feeling we’ll meet that team down the line.”
“I’ve never been involved with anything like that,” said Hollister American manager Dave Brooks. “There were fantastic plays by both teams. Both teams left a lot of runners on base.”
Rodriguez enjoyed a big night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double plus the game-winning-RBI. His single in the ninth scored Kyle Rhodas, who had walked.
Rodriguez’ heroics made a winner out of Daniel Schulman, who pitched the sixth through ninth frames.
Each team had a home run. Josh Villegas hit a solo shot for Holliste American, while David Alvarez belted one for Hollister National.
Hollister American catcher Spencer Brann wowed the crowd with a no-look throw from near the backstop to Vallen Shaw-Fuss to cut down a National runner at the plate.
“We have to play for today,” said Brooks. “There is no tomorrow.”
-Hollister Little League has had an extremely strong showing in the ongoing District 9 9-10 All-Stars Tournament. Four out of the final eight teams are from Hollister Little League.
The Hollister National 9-10 B’s stayed afloat with a 13-7 defeat of Greenfield Saturday. Tyler Smith went 3-4 with a double to lead Hollister. Josh Woida added a two-run double. Hollister National B’s play Salinas-Atlantic Tuesday at Ferrasci Field at 5:30 p.m.
Mitch Burley’s Hollister American B stars pulled off a miracle rally to win going away 15-9 in a wild game with Hartnell Saturday. The American B’s were down 9-1 going into the bottom of the third before scoring six runs. They scored two more runs in the fourth to tie the game, then tallied six runs in the fifth to break it open.
Ryan Jimenez went 3-for-4 and had a bases loaded triple in that fifth inning.
Jake Hunter had three hits, as well. Hollister American B takes on North County Wednesday at Salinas-Atlantic at 5:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
Hollister National A and Hollister American A tangle this Tuesday in one semifinal at Salinas-Atlantic at 5:30 p.m. Soledad and Continental battle in the other semifinal tonight at Salinas-Atlantic at 5:30 p.m.
-There are no more San Benito County Babe Ruth League All-Star teams left in the District 1 Tournament. The SBC 14’s were ousted last Thursday, losing to Modesto 6-3 in Tracy.
“We had one bad inning where we made two errors,” said SBC 14’s manager Kraig Klauer. “Then there a call went against us. It was an inning where everything went wrong for us.”
Alex Huerta pitched the entire game for the SBC 14’s and took the loss.
“Alex pitched well,” said Klauer. “We couldn’t score any runs for him.”
The SBC 14’s, who went 2-2 for the tournament, had the bases loaded in the seventh with one out, but couldn’t score.
After going 5-0 in their first five games, the three SBC All-Star teams were a combined 0-6.
-Hollister American and Hollister National vie tonight at Vets Park in the 9 year-old Tournament at 5:30 p.m. San Juan/Aromas lost to San Lorenzo Valley Saturday and plays either Watsonville or Aptos this Tuesday at Vets Park at 5:30 p.m.
