Cade Vallejo hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Hollister
National beat Soledad 8-7 Friday; National will play Hollister
American in championship Saturday
Hollister
Cade Vallejo’s sixth-inning two-run homer to right field provided the eventual game-winning run, as Hollister National leapfrogged Soledad 8-7 in the final inning of the consolation semifinals Friday at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.
Hollister National will now play Hollister American in the championship final Saturday at 10 a.m. at Vets Park. If necessary, a second would be played Sunday at Vets Park at 4 p.m.
Vallejo’s homer in the sixth came one inning after Soledad plated five runs, including a grand slam, to grab a narrow 7-6 lead heading to the last inning.
But after Cody Freitas walked to start the top of the sixth, and the next two National batters struck out, Vallejo took the first pitch he saw and launched it opposite field over the right field fence.
In the bottom half of the inning, Vallejo, on the mound, put the first two batters on base before getting the next three outs in order, including striking out a pair of batters.
The win pits the two Hollister teams in a rematch for the 11- and 12-year-old title. Last Saturday, American upended National 9-5 to send them to the elimination bracket.
American then defeated Ferrasci 11-0, Hartnell 12-0 and Soledad 4-1, while National beat North County 23-0, King City 10-5, Hartnell 12-2 and Atlantic 9-1 before Friday’s one-run victory.
National worked out to a quick 5-0 lead against Soledad when Tyler Fhurong and Vallejo both connected on solo home runs. In the third, Freitas hit an RBI double and Greg Moreno followed with a two-run single.
After Soledad hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, Benjamin Cobb’s RBI single in the fifth made it 6-2 Hollister.
Along with Vallejo, Nathan Alvarez and Moreno pitched for Hollister Friday.
Saturday’s championship will be played on Field No. 2.
In the 10- and 11-year-old division, Hollister American defeated Hollister National 4-1 in the consolation semifinals Friday to advance to the championship.
Hollister American will now play Soledad Sunday in the title round at Salinas Continental at 1 p.m. If American wins, a winner-take-all second game will be played on Monday at Salinas Continental at 5:30 p.m.
In the 9- and 10-year-old division, Hollister American A beat Hollister American B 17-1 Friday in the consolation semifinals.
American A will now play Hollister National A on Saturday on Field No. 2 at Vets Park at 1 p.m. If American A wins, a winner-take-all second game will be played on Sunday on Field No. 2 at 10 a.m.
