At one point in the bottom of the third inning on Wednesday
night at Veterans Memorial Park, Hollister American’s Tony Amaral
walked up to the plate to hit, and gave a friendly slap on the
glove to Hollister National catcher Quinn Mendoza.
Andrew Matheson Sports Editor
Hollister – At one point in the bottom of the third inning on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Park, Hollister American’s Tony Amaral walked up to the plate to hit, and gave a friendly slap on the glove to Hollister National catcher Quinn Mendoza.
While the District 9 All-Star Tournament semifinal game between Hollister American-A and Hollister National-A didn’t carry the same implications as Red Sox-Yankees, the two local teams have seen enough of each other over years past, and both managers are expecting to see each other one last time in this tournament before it’s over.
On Wednesday, though, Hollister National exploded for an 11-run fourth inning en route to a 12-2 win over Hollister American. The game was called at the end of the fourth inning due to the 10-run rule.
“We told our kids, don’t celebrate too early,” National Manager Adam Breen said. “We fully expect to see them again on Saturday.”
With the loss, Hollister American-A will play Soledad today at American Little League field in Salinas at 5:30 p.m. Those two teams will battle to see who will move onto the championship round to face Hollister National-A, a series slated for Saturday at Continental Little League.
“Tomorrow’s a different day,” American Manager Robert Fabing said. “We’ve got to go to work tomorrow, work hard, and get a ‘W’.”
On Wednesday, American pitcher Zack Moeller and National pitcher Greg Moreno made quick work of the opposition in the first inning. In the second, Moreno led National off with a walk, while Hunter Haworth singled to put Moreno on second.
It was a wild pitch by Moeller, though, that had Moreno charging for the plate to score. However, Moeller covered home just in time to tag out a sliding Moreno to keep the game scoreless.
National got on the scoreboard first after a fielding error allowed Garrett Kelly to score from second base. American responded in the bottom half of the third when Conner Fabing singled up the middle, scoring Amaral.
In the fourth with the score tied 1-1, National plated 11 runs, a rally that was started by a bunt single from Austin Ryder that scored Haworth.
“We’ve been hitting the ball really well,” Breen said. “We just told them to be patient, but stay aggressive.”
Later in the fourth, Mendoza connected for a two-run double to center field, while Haworth would bat again in the inning, and hit a two-run single into right field.
“They are a very good team,” said Fabing, who was confident about his team’s game today against Soledad. “They put the ball in play, and give them credit for putting the ball in play. We just kind of fell apart in that last inning, but we’ll be all right.”
The two teams have routinely met up in the tournament in years past, and the two teams seemingly go back-and-forth in wins. Two years ago, National won. Last year, it was American. And on Wednesday, National won again.
“It’s almost every other year,” Breen said. “That says a lot about our program and the commitment the city has to the sport.
“But (Hollister American) is going to play tomorrow, and I’m sure they’re going to win.”
Hollister American Stays Alive with Win over North County
Staff Reports
Salinas – The Hollister American 11-12 All-Stars used the long ball on Wednesday night in Salinas to rout North County 9-1, keeping their hopes alive in the District 9 All-Star Tournament.
With already one loss to their record, Hollister American connected for a home run four times against North County, a feat that plated eight of the teams’ nine runs on the night.
“We played long ball,” Manager Joe Tonascia said. “That was an awesome display of hitting. The boys right now are just clicking.”
In the second inning, Craig Slibsager hit a double and would later score on a pass ball, putting Hollister American up 1-0.
In the third, Tyler Pina and Jacob Tonascia each singled to get on base, while Richard Beltran hit a three-run homer to bring them all in.
Not done there, Slibsager would connect for a solo home run of his own, going back-to-back with Beltran.
Later, in the fifth inning, Hollister American was at the deep ball again. This time, Pina hit a two-run homer, while Slibsager would do the same, hitting a two-run shot later in that same inning.
“They’re concentrating on just winning,” Tonascia said. “One game at a time. One inning at a time.”
While the offense was clicking, so too were the hurlers on the mound.
Beltran started the game on the hill. While he pitched only three innings, he struck out seven of the batters he saw, and did not surrender a hit.
“He did an excellent job,” Tonascia said of Beltran.
In relief, Rudy Sanchez and Robert Soto pitched the remainder of the game, combining for one hit allowed and three strikeouts.
Hollister American will now play Continental after they defeated Soledad on Wednesday. The game will be played at Continental in Salinas today at 5:30 p.m. A win over Continental would put Hollister American into the semifinals of the loser’s bracket.
District 9 All-Star Tournament
10-11-Year-Olds
Hollister American 9, Hollister National 1
Hollister American qualifies for the championship round, set to begin on Saturday at American Little League field in Salinas. Hollister National will play today against Ferrasci at Hartnell Little League field in Salinas. The winner of the Hollister National-Ferrasci game will move on to the championship round to face Hollister American.
