SALINAS – The cheers from the avid fans of the Hollister
National Little League 11 year-old All-Stars cried out
”
Rally! Rally! Rally!
”
SALINAS – The cheers from the avid fans of the Hollister National Little League 11 year-old All-Stars cried out “Rally! Rally! Rally!”
Hollister National rallied its way to the championship of the Salinas-Hartnell 11 year-old All-Stars Tournament Saturday with an 8-7 decision of host Hartnell in a winnner-take-all game. It was the first time a Hartnell team has not won the tournament title since its inception eight years ago.
How the championship transpired was typical of this Hollister National team, which refused to quit throughout the tournament. Trailing 7-6 going into the bottom of the sixth, Ramiro Chapa walked, as did David Alvarez. According to Hollister National manager Manny Amaral, Chapa and Alvarez kept moving up a base on passed balls and wild pitches. Chapa scored on a wild pitch to tie the score while Alvarez ended up on third base. Ricky Rodriguez delivered the game-winning single to cap off a 3-for-4 day.
Daniel Schulman went 3-3, while Jason Kutzer was 2-2 for Hollister National. Joey Amaral pitched a scoreless sixth inning in relief of Chapa for the win. It was the third victory by Amaral in the tourney.
“My kids never quit,” said Manny Amaral, Joey’s father. “They played with a lot of heart. I’m really proud of them. My assistants – Felipe Davila and Dennis Wilson – did a great job of coaching, too.”
Saturday’s ‘if’ game was forced due to an 11-9 Hartnell victory on Friday. Hollister National didn’t quit in that one either, despite being down 11-3 going into the bottom of the sixth. With Hartnell’s big horse, Chris Marquez, on the mound, Hollister National rallied, to steal a phrase, to come within an eyelash of pulling off a miracle comeback.
Alvarez and Schulman singled to get the comeback wheels turning. Felipe Davila’s sac bunt was thrown away for an error as the bases were packed full of National players. Taylor Green worked a walk for one run, as did Tyler Poletti for another RBI. A Kevin Wilson fielder’s choise grounder forced out Green at third base, but a run came in for 11-6.
Rodriguez singled to load the bases for Kyle Rhodas. Rhodas singled down the right field line and Hollister National was within three runs at 11-8. That chased Marquez, who had shown a giddy-up fastball with eight strikeouts in the first four innings. In came reliever Cort Henson. Henson was greeted by a single by Chapa to jam the bases full once more.
Henson induced a short fly ball to left for the second out of the inning, but walked Schulman for another Hollister National run. That meant the tying run was on at second base in the form of Chapa and the winning run was on at first base in the form of Schulman. Henson, however, fanned the next batter to end the game, stopping Hollister National in its tracks. Henson enjoyed a fine evening with two hits, including a two-run homer in the fifth when Hartnell scored seven runs.
If Hollister National was going to lose that game on Friday, it was best it was by a two-run margin, not one. For in the bottom of the fourth and with the score at 4-3 in favor of Hartnell, Hollister National had a run mysteriously taken away from them. Schulman, who had doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning, was at third base with one out. Kutzer hit a medium-deep fly ball down the left field line. Hartnell left fielder Charles Hernandez made the catch. Shulman tagged up and scored.
Hartnell appealed immediately that Schulman left early. The plate umpire agreed and ruled Schulman out.
“Schulman stayed on the base long enough,” said Manny Amaral. “We work hard on that tagging up drill all the time. I knew once the umpire had made his ruling, there was no sense of me arguing about it.”
Alvarez made a highlight reel defensive play for Hollister National in the fourth inning from his second base position. He fielded a sharp grounder by Lou Villaneda to his right, stepped on second to force out Marquez, and threw to first to double up Villaneda. Villaneda was Hartnell’s hitting star with three hits and two runs batted in.
The Hollister National 11’s play in one more tournamnent when it plays in the Aptos 11’s Tournament this weekend. Hollister National faces the second place team from District 44 this Saturday at 10 a.m. Hartnell is also entered and plays the first place team from District 44, also at 10 a.m.
Game notes: Hartnell right fielder Joseph Carnazzo is the son of Palma High varsity football coach Jeff Carnazzo. Joseph went 1-4, had an RBI and scored two runs on Friday…..Hartnell amassed 17 hits in Friday’s game……Hollister National made four errors to hurt its cause on Friday….Hartnell won the flip on Saturday and chose to be the visitor.
Hartnell 400 070 – 11 17 1
Hol Nat 012 006 – 9 10 4
Marquez, Henson (6) and Dinner; Schulman, Rhodas (6) and Green. WP-Marquez. LP-Schulman. Save – Henson. 2B – Marquez (H); Schulman (HN). HR – Henson (H). 3 hits – Villaneda (H). 2 hits – Henson, McDonald, Heitz (H); Chapa, Schulman (HN). 2 RBI – Henson, Villaneda, Doughty-Wood (H); Rhodas, Chapa (HN).
