National ‘A’ defeats King City 6-2; American ‘B’ defeats
National ‘B’ 13-2 in All-Star play
National ‘A’ defeats King City 6-2; American ‘B’ defeats National ‘B’ 13-2 in All-Star play
By NATHAN MIXTER
Sports Editor
It is not often a team will give up an out an then go on to score three runs in the inning.
The Hollister National ‘A’ team did just that in the District 9 9-10-year-old All-Star tournament in Hollister on Wednesday night and defeated King City ‘A’ 6-2 to remain in the winner’s bracket.
The Hollister National ‘A” team will go against the Hollister American ‘B’ team, which also won its game on Wednesday night.
In the fourth inning, Hollister National batted out of order, and the game had to be stopped for 10 minutes while the ruling was given by phone. When the game resumed, the batter was out, but that didn’t stop the Hollister National team from adding some more runs to the scoreboard.
With two out, Joseph Schulman, who was 4-for-4, got things started with a base hit that bounced on second base. He then stole second.
Brittany Hoff, Hollister’s lone female All-Star, hit a ball hard that was bobbled in the infield and eventually scooted into the outfield, allowing Schulman to score from second to make the score 4-1.
After Adrian Soto was plunked on the back, Ryan Jacob had a solid double to drive in two runs.
Jacob, who had 11 strikeouts, pitched 5 1/3 innings before being relieved by Emmett King.
Soto and Jacob both went 2-for-4. Hoff had two hits and was on base three of the four times she batted. Hoff played left field and batted second in the lineup.
“She’s a real hard-nosed player,” said Manager Ben Schulman. “She’s all business when she’s out there. She hustles and she is not afraid to swing the bat. All the moms like me now. But there are no favorites. She gets what she earns.”
Keegan Bielejec gave the National team its second run after he hit a short popup that landed untouched and then advanced around to score on overthrows on the same play.
Defensively, third baseman Tyller Smith made a couple nice plays to get outs at first – one on a slow hit grounder and another on a bunt hit attempt in the sixth inning.
King City scored a run in the second after loading the bases. Schulman, at catcher, made a nice play to get to a passed ball that trickled to the screen. He quickly flipped the ball to Jacob covering, but the tag was just late. King City scored its final run in the sixth inning.
Both teams left the bases loaded in the middle innings.
9-10 All-Stars
Hollister American ‘B’ 13, Hollister National ‘B’ 2
The Hollister American team defeated fellow Hollister National in a shortened 10-run mercy rule game at Veterans Park.
The Americans started off the game quickly. Cody Cameron and Taylor Dukes both drew walks. Richard Beltran followed with a single to load the bases.
Nate Garza came up with the first of his four hits in the game to bring in two runs. He then later scored on a passed ball to put the Americans up 3-0.
In the third inning, Garza and Ryan Disalvo led off the inning with base hits. Dylan Key laid down a bunt to score Garza from third. Nathan DelReal then followed with a single to bring in Disalvo.
Kyle Tolentino followed with a single, and Cameron hit the first pitch he saw into the outfield for an RBI single, putting Hollister American up 6-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Beltran started the inning off with a double and was followed by Garza, who brought him in with a single. After Disalvo singed, DelReal brought in two runs with a hit.
Mitch Huston was able to work a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and then Ray Rueda hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field that scored Anthony Ocampo and moved all the runners up a base. Dukes capped off the seventh inning with a two-run single, making the score 13-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Nationals were able to get two runs after Joe Larson and Davey Bravo drew walks and stole themselves around the bases. But Garza was able to shut down the National team, leaving runners at second and third to end the game.
Ocampo pitched three scoreless innings for the American team, Disalvo pitched 1/3 of an inning and gave up two runs before Garza closed it out.
11 All-Stars
Hollister American 12, Ferrasci 2
The Hollister American team won in a shortened five-inning game despite facing a pitcher who was throwing strikes.
Enrique Lopez, who had three hits, and Conner Stevens both had triples in the game for Hollister. Jake Hunter and and Jacob Cabral added doubles. Nick Hernandez pitched three innings, and Eddie Vargas closed it out.
