Brian Bantilan takes pride in being known as the
”
hardest
”
manager in Morgan Hill Pony Baseball, a disposition that he said
brings out the best in his players when they are faced with
adversity
SAN JOSE
Brian Bantilan prides himself in being the “hardest” manager in Morgan Hill Pony Baseball, a disposition that he said brings out the best in his players when they are faced with adversity.
The Morgan Hill Bronco All-Stars were at several points in Friday’s 19-7 elimination loss to nationally ranked Blossom Valley A. And though the locals did fail to pull a stunning upset over the eventual champions of their section tournament at Herman Intermediate School, they played with enough heart and determination to warrant praise from their ironclad skipper.
Bantilan was borderline giddy for this week’s Bronco Regional at PAL Stadium.
“The fact that we didn’t give up, and that we carried ourselves and stepped up when we had to against the best team in the tournament says a lot,” Bantilan said. “You have to take responsibility for yourself. You can be down by nine and lose a game. But to be down by nine and give up … let that 10th run score and lose by 10-run rule; the worst thing you can do is quit.”
Morgan Hill trailed 9-0 midway through the first inning. It was 9-6 by the top of the fifth, with Morgan Hill an out away from returning to the dugout. But that spiraled into a six-run rally. An inning later, Morgan Hill needed another small spurt against Blossom Valley’s ace pitcher to keep the game going but eventually lost in the sixth.
“The fact that they had to use their best pitcher to finish us off was another thing to be proud of,” said Bantilan, whose team lost 15-5 to Blossom Valley earlier in the tournament. “Everyone did their part when we needed them to. You have to feel happy we didn’t give up.”
Blossom Valley beat Los Altos/Mountain View A 14-6 Saturday and 15-3 Sunday to clinch the title. Los Altos/Mountain View A handed Blossom Valley its only loss, 3-2, in the tournament on July 20.
Morgan Hill plays its opener in the seven-team regional at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Vacaville. The winner plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, while the loser goes at 5. The tournament champion advances to the Bronco World Series in Monterey.
Bantilan’s group clinched an Regionals berth July 21 with a 9-8 victory over Blossom Valley B. Ryan Spohn had three doubles in four at-bats, and Nick Hoefling, R.J. Kerr and Kekoa Bantilan provided just enough pitching for the locals.
“It’s almost like having that free ticket before you get there,” Brian Bantilan said Friday morning. “The kids can play, and they know that now.”
It was a second straight victory in the losers’ bracket for Morgan Hill, which beat South San Francisco 10-2 July 18.
Morgan Hill never trailed Thursday but did have to rise up after Blossom Valley B tied it, 4-4, in the fourth inning. Morgan Hill responded with three runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth, only to watch Blossom Valley B trim the lead to one heading into the seventh.
Kekoa Bantilan answered the bell in the final inning with a man on to preserve the win, ensuring Morgan Hill of another week of baseball.
MUSTANG-9: The Morgan Hill All-Stars on Thursday begin play in the West Zone Tournament at Creekside Park in Walnut — 24 miles west of Los Angeles. Their opponent is to be announced.
