One day later, Hollister National was simply a different
team.
After Tuesday’s 9-0 loss to Saratoga in the championship round
of the Section 5 All-Star Tournament, a loss in which National was
taken out of the game early and nearly no-hit, the local 9- and
10-year-old All-Stars avenged the loss with a 5-4 win on Wednesday
night at Veterans Memorial Park and will advance to San Jose for
the NorCal championship.
By Andrew Matheson Sports Editor
Hollister – One day later, Hollister National was simply a different team.
After Tuesday’s 9-0 loss to Saratoga in the championship round of the Section 5 All-Star Tournament, a loss in which National was taken out of the game early and nearly no-hit, the local 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars avenged the loss with a 5-4 win on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Park and will advance to San Jose for the NorCal championship.
Of course, after National had fallen in the first game of the District 9 All-Star Tournament to Hollister American, only to come back in game two with a win and advance to the Section 5 tournament, Manager Adam Breen trusted his team would repeat the effort, and the outcome, on Wednesday.
“I was proud of how our kids bounced back today,” Breen said. “They’ve learned how to win, but they’re also learning how to bounce back from adversity, and that’s what helps us continue to have success.
“It doesn’t hurt that we got great pitching and good hitting today as well…And our defense – if we throw strikes, our defense is generally good enough to carry us, and I’m just really proud of these guys.”
That sentiment was true on Wednesday, as starting pitcher Hunter Haworth pitched 5.2 innings, struck out four, and most importantly, didn’t allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning.
At the plate, National scored one in the first as Andrew Sotelo doubled off the left field wall, and was later knocked in on a sacrifice fly by John Batelle.
Andrew Breen would hit the wall as well in the top half of the third with the bases loaded, scoring both Riley Phelps and Tommy Hernandez on the hit, and pushing National out to a 3-0 lead.
The locals added a pair of runs in the fourth off errors, while Saratoga got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fifth on a fielder’s choice ground out to cut the lead to 5-1.
Entering the bottom of the sixth, Saratoga’s Andrew Carter drew a base on balls, and scored on an ensuing RBI double by Tyler Plesse. Later, Andrew Ferguson blasted a two-run homer off the right field scoreboard to cut the lead to 5-4.
While Greg Moreno came in for relief of Haworth, it was Haworth, now at shortstop, who threw a bullet across the diamond to beat Saratoga’s Derek Sun to end the game.
“It was a little gut-wrenching there in the end,” Breen said. “But I wasn’t too worried. We’re proud to represent Hollister.”
National’s 9-10 counterparts, Hollister American, won the Section 5 tournament last year, and eventually won the Northern California Divisional Tournament.
This year, no matter how they do at the NorCal tournament, Breen said, “It’s a good legacy. We’re proud to continue that legacy, regardless of how we do at state.”
Last year, included within the Northern California boundaries, which stretches from south of Fresno to the California-Oregon border, were approximately 500 teams.
Breen gave credit to coaches Mark Haworth and Mike Martinez, saying, “having both of those guys was huge.”
Hollister National will receive a bye in the first round of the Northern California Divisional Tournament this weekend at East Hills Little League in San Jose. The squad will play Sunday at 11am against the winner of the Section 6-Section 4 contest.
“Their hard work resulted in them being one of the best teams in Northern California,” Breen said. “That’s a huge accomplishment for these kids.”
