Locals drop rematch in Sectionals
LOS GATOS — The Morgan Hill Pony All-Stars won’t get another shot at San Jose PAL or any other Pony Baseball team.
Less than a week after taking an 18-8 loss to San Jose PAL on the chin, Morgan Hill dropped a rematch Friday in equally bitter fashion — a 13-1 eyesore that ended the locals’ run in the Los Gatos Sectional and closed the book on another generation of Morgan Hill Pony Baseball players.
For them, high school ball is next.
“That’s pretty much how it goes for everyone unless you win the Pony World Series,” Morgan Hill manager Manny Brum said. “It’s a tough way to go out.”
Morgan Hill was on pace for a revenge win at Fisher Middle School after beating Sunnyvale/Cupertino 14-4 in elimination play Monday. Morgan Hill looked far removed from the team that squandered a 6-0 lead to San Jose PAL in their first meeting. San Jose PAL was equally motivated, though, in the wake of Tuesday’s 12-10 loss to Los Gatos.
Both teams hit the ball well Friday. San Jose PAL found the right spots.
“Every ball they hit found a hole, or we made an error. Everyone we hit went right to one of their defenders — and they didn’t make errors,” said Brum, who had two batters strike out. “That’s just baseball.”
Morgan Hill’s highlights included two challenging double plays turned by Adam Belluomini and Sean Aitken. Alan Engle scored the local team’s run.
San Jose PAL was sent packing Saturday, the result of a 16-4 loss to Santa Clara.
