Local team will play elimination game against Ceres at 5:30 p.m.
today in Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA — Karl Johnisee-Mann scored Zach Riveron on a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Morgan Hill 13U Pony B All-Stars stunned Blossom Valley’s A team 5-4 Tuesday in a thrilling elimination game at the Santa Clara County Sectional.
Riveron led off with a hit-by-pitch, then moved to second when John Austin was plunked in the next at-bat. Johnisee-Mann’s single was just deep enough to score Riveron, touching off a big celebration.
“The kids were ecstatic,” Morgan Hill manager John Bennett said. “(Blossom Valley) is, in my opinion, the third-best team in the tournament, so this was huge — a great win for us.”
Four teams remain in the double-elimination sectional, and two are from Morgan Hill. The city’s upstart B squad will return to Lou Vierra Field today to face Ceres at 5:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to play the loser of Thursday’s Santa Clara-Morgan Hill A game Friday. The top two teams will earn invites to a regional in Campbell.
The B All-Stars had to play superbly Tuesday to make it this far. They prevailed behind starting pitcher Justin Dziuba, who kept the fast-ball savy Blossom Valley hitters off balance with steady command. Dziuba worked a four-hitter with six strikeouts and one earned run.
“Justin has done this for me time and time again in big games,” said Bennett, whose team has won two straight after dropping its opener to Santa Clara. “Justin is not a hard thrower, but his control is excellent.”
Morgan Hill B tied the game 4-4 in the fifth inning and nearly took the lead in the sixth; Garrison Grisedale was thrown out on a close play at home to end the inning.
Johnisee-Mann, who will take the hill today, joined teammate Andrew Wilcox with two hits, and Riveron reached base twice.
Morgan Hill A and Santa Clara will play for a spot in the championship round Thursday.
