Locals roll through first two games in host sectional at Britton
Middle School
MORGAN HILL — After last weekend’s opening rounds in the Morgan Hill Sectional at Britton Middle School, the local A All-Stars had little standing between them and the Pinto World Series.
Their first game was a 14-1 victory over Seaside; the second, an 11-0 shutout against Blossom Valley 3. And just like that, the Morgan Hill A team was two wins away from playing for a section championship and an invite to play with the world’s best teams in San Jose starting in two weeks.
Monday, the A team squared off against, arguably, their toughest opponent in the five-team double-elimination tournament, Morgan Hill C (results were late by press time). Even a loss there would not have crippled the A All-Stars chance to play for the top prize Thursday. The one team they have not faced is Paso Robles, a club that needed a late rally to beat Seaside in the losers’ bracket Saturday.
Though his team is in excellent shape, Morgan Hill A manager Vince La Gatta and his staff strive to keep their 8-year-old players focused on the next game.
“If we show up and play, we have a really strong shot to advance each game,” La Gatta said. “But we don’t take anyone for granted. Our players know they have a special opportunity to play for the World Series in their own backyard, so they have to take it one game at a time like the old cliche goes. Either you win this tournament, or you go home.”
Pitchers Colton Moorehead and Gio Saso carried the team through its first two games, combining for 13 strikeouts against Seaside and 11 versus Blossom Valley 3.
The rest of the team complimented them with solid hitting led by Karson Mazotti and Moorehead. Morgan Hill had 30 hits Saturday.
“The whole team is really hitting the ball well,” La Gatta said. “Colton and Gio worked great together those first two games. We’ll need them to be just as good the rest of the way.”
Should they have lost Monday, the A All-Stars will pick up Wednesday against the loser of today’s elimination game between Blossom Valley 3 and Paso Robles.
The final could easily be an all-Morgan Hill rematch.
“I think having a representative from here at the World Series would be great,” La Gatta said. “Hopefully, it’s us.”
