Despite a heartbreaking loss in the West Zone Tournament finals,
the Morgan Hill Colt Athletics could still celebrate becoming the
first Colt League team in local history to make the Zone
finals.
Despite a heartbreaking loss in the West Zone Tournament finals, the Morgan Hill Colt Athletics could still celebrate becoming the first Colt League team in local history to make the Zone finals.
On Saturday, the local team lost a late lead en route to a 15-12 loss to South Division champion Chino in the West Zone finale at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
But the loss left a lot less sting on the MH Colt A’s considering their historic effort.
“I’m so proud of this team,” Manager Dave Newton said. “Last year, we made it into the top four for the first time and this year we topped that.”
After winning its first two West Zone tourney games, then falling to Chino in the winner’s bracket finals, MH battled back to beat Norwalk in the loser’s bracket finals to set up a rematch with Chino in the championship series.
Despite being physically overmatched by Chino, according to Newton, the local Colt team held its own, rebounding from an early 10-4 deficit to take a 12-10 lead into the seventh inning.
The big eight-run, sixth inning rally was keyed by Nick Tuttle’s three-run homer, Newton said.
But Chino tallied five runs in the seventh to pull out the victory and the West Zone title.
Chino now moves on to the Colt World Series in Lafayette, Ind.
Meanwhile, the MH Colt A’s qualified for the West Zone tourney by serving as co-hosts at PAL Stadium, but quickly proved it belonged.
After beating Santa Clara 10-3 in its tourney opener, the MH Colt A’s edged fellow co-host San Jose PAL 6-5 on Thursday before the first Chino loss, by a 4-1 score, on Friday.
MH then downed early tourney favorite Norwalk 9-5 in its first game on Saturday.
Newton said Tuttle, Mike Paresa, Kyle Mosbrucker, Shane Christman and Eric Nelson all had outstanding tournaments for MH.
