When it was all said and done, there was no doubt as to who the
top team was at the 2007 13-year-old Central California State
Qualifier Tournament. The San Benito All-Stars made sure of
that.
Andrew Matheson Sports Editor
Hollister – When it was all said and done, there was no doubt as to who the top team was at the 2007 13-year-old Central California State Qualifier Tournament.
The San Benito All-Stars made sure of that.
San Benito throttled Manteca 24-0 in the championship game on Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister, capping a perfect 4-0 record in the tournament.
The game Thursday was called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule, a feat that San Benito had matched every game of the tournament.
San Benito began the tournament with a 10-0 win against Lodi, followed by a 17-1 win over Tracy and qualified for the championship game after defeating Manteca 14-2.
San Benito Manager Joe Ocampo said the reason behind his team’s success is that there aren’t any holes.
“This is our fourth game, and we’ve played very well,” he said. “We’re strong on the field and strong off the bench. All the credit goes to the kids.
“Our kids are aggressive. They’re also patient at the same time. There is no weak hitter or weak player on our team.”
With the win, San Benito qualified for another tournament in Arroyo Grande, near San Luis Obispo.
On Thursday, though, while Manteca needed to defeat San Benito twice to oust them in the double-elimination tournament, the local San Benito All-Stars made sure that a second game wasn’t needed.
San Benito jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top half of the first inning, highlighted by a hit-and-run play that saw Matt Vallejo score from second base on a single to center by Tanner Carrillo-Zazueta.
Later in the inning, Adrian Medina ripped a single down the third base line, scoring Carrillo-Zazueta from second base.
In the second inning, Vallejo led off with a walk, and Sergio Cosio hit a triple to left center field, plating Vallejo. Manteca made the first of their three pitching changes after Cosio’s triple, but reliever Anthony Louie’s first pitch to Carrillo-Zazueta was singled to left, scoring Cosio.
“These guys love to hit,” Ocampo said. “I’m really proud of this team.”
In the third, Medina hit a double to the left field wall, plating one run. Mark Nakata would then hit a two-RBI single to center field, scoring both Jacob Cabral and Medina.
The hit parade continued in the fourth inning when Tyler Quinby singled to center and scored Cabral and Medina once again.
In all, San Benito scored four runs in the first inning, five runs in the second, four in the third, seven in the fourth and four more in the fifth.
Carrillo-Zazueta went 3-for-3 and knocked in three runs against Manteca, while Tyler Quinby went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
On the mound, Medina threw four innings, allowed one hit and struck out four. At the plate, Medina had four hits, including two doubles, and had a three-RBI day.
After a four-game sweep through the state qualifier tournament, one in which San Benito outscored its opponents 65-3, Ocampo is certain that there will be no letdown in Arroyo Grande, where the competition will most likely be better.
“It’s going to be another level, but they know it,” Ocampo said.
Added coach Rudy Mendoza, “They’ve all been high and they’ve all been low, and they know what to expect.”
The tournament in Arroyo Grande will commence on July 14 and continue through the following week.
