About two weeks ago, Tyler Pina spoke up and said he might be
able to pitch for the Hollister American Little League 9 year-old
All-Stars.
About two weeks ago, Tyler Pina spoke up and said he might be able to pitch for the Hollister American Little League 9 year-old All-Stars. He hadn’t pitched for two years, but he figured now was as good as time as any to volunteer.
Pina’s timing couldn’t have been better. He pitched a complete game, two-hitter against Hollister National Monday night at Vets Park, leading his club to a 11-3 victory. Pina struck out 12 batters, fanning the side in the second and fourth innings.
And his pitch count? Approximately 119 pitches.
“I wasn’t really tired,” said Pina, who will get another call as soon as possible should Hollister American keep plodding in the San Juan/Aromas-Hollister 9 Year-Old Tournament. “It was fun. I think I’ll pitch again.”
“We cycled through our roster at practice looking for pitchers and we found out Tyler could pitch,” said Hollister American manager Jeff Dempsey. “He hit his spots and threw the ball well.”
With the win, Hollister American survives to play another game. It takes on either Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz American this Wednesday at Vets Park at 5:30 p.m.
Hollister American jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning Monday as it sent 10 hitters to the plate. Nathan Del Real and Nate Garza singled, then Pina and Skyler Shaw-Fuss were safe on fielder’s choice ground balls as a run scored. Andrew Medina’s sharp single to right field plated two more runs. Anthony Ocampo crunched an RBI double to right to finalize the scoring in the inning.
Hollister National hung in there, tallying an unearned run in the bottom of the first when Patrick Kutzer scored on a Hollister American error.
Up 9-3 heading into the fourth, Hollister American went to work. Garza singled, then Pina followed with a double. Shaw-Fuss chipped in an RBI single. Shaw-Fuss was wild pitched to second and was initially ruled safe at third after a prospective wild pitch. But, Hollister National assistant coach Albert King appealed the judgement and the call was reversed.
Hollister National almost got out of the innings with two runs allowed, but Tyler Quinby’s two-run double helped put the game out of reach.
Coming up with the hits for Hollister National were Ryan Jacob and Darin Hopkins. Kutzer played an outstanding shortstop for Hollister National in defeat.
“We would have liked to have played another game,” said Hollister National manager Ron Kutzer. “It was a good experience for our kids. This experience will help them for next year.”
Frankie Castillo pitched all six innings for Hollister National and went over 100 pitches, as well.
Game notes: Hollister National scored its third run on a double steal with Hopkins stealing second drawing a throw down, which allowed Skyler King to score…..Speaking of which, Hollister American stole all six of its bases in the final two innings….Hollister American totaled 13 hits.
Hol Am 5000 411 – 11 13 2
Hol Nat 101 100 – 3 2 4
Pina and Moeller, Bernal (5); Castillo and Williams, Kutzer (5). WP-Pina. LP-Castillo. 2B – Pina, Ocampo, Quinby (HA). 2 hits – Del Real, Garza, Pina, Medina, Quinby (HA). 2 RBI – Medina, Quinby (HA).