MH ousted from World Series with 8-2 loss Sunday
MONTEREY — The Morgan Hill All-Stars’ run in the Bronco World Series ended Sunday, but their coaches believe this won’t be the last article that mentions their names.
“It was a special group of kids,” Mike Zanotto said Monday. “I think that’s something that will sink in more over time as they are compared to other teams from Morgan Hill.”
Nicknamed the Thrill, this talented corps of 12-year-olds became the city’s first Bronco Division team to reach Pony Baseball’s biggest tournament. The California Regional champions compiled a 23-3 record this summer, including 22 consecutive wins.
“I feel like it was an accomplishment,” Morgan Hill manager Dave Affourtit said. “We represented the city well. We beat all the teams we were supposed to beat. I’d say that’s pretty respectable.”
Following his team’s decisive 8-2 loss to Tai-Yuan Elementary School of Tapei, Taiwan, Zanotto got a sense of how ground-breaking the season was while conversing with a fan.
“He wasn’t a parent of a player, but he said he came to watch history,” Zanotto said. “Who knows when the next time Morgan Hill plays a team like Taiwan will be.”
Morgan Hill finished 2-2 in Green Division pool play with wins over Salinas’ Toro Park and Joliet (Ill.). The teams Morgan Hill lost to, Taiwan and Simi Valley, advanced to the four-team championship tournament, which began Monday at Jack’s Park in Monterey.
“A lot of these teams, quite frankly, play on these big stages more often,” Affourtit said. “They play together year round. Our guys play football and other sports. … That definitely says a lot about us.”
Neither coach knew if the Thrill would stay together next year, when the players jump to Pony Division.
“Whatever happens, we’re proud of them,” Zanotto said.
The visiting All-Stars from the South Pacific put on a small-ball clinic Sunday; only one of their seven hits left the infield. They capitalized off seven free passes.
“There’s a reason they’re undefeated,” Zanotto said. “They’re the most fundamentally sound team I have ever coached against.”
Trailing 6-0, Morgan Hill received run-scoring hits from Ethan Cox and Josh Alaniz in the sixth inning. Cox singled home Sam Aptekar, who doubled, and Alaniz drove in Cox with a two-bagger. Taiwan’s closer struck out Mike Porras with the bases loaded to end the threat.
“Porras battled,” Zanotto said. “He struck out but at least he went down swinging.”
Morgan Hill’s Mark Quinby struck out three and walked one and allowed four runs in as many innings. Cox pitched the last three innings.
Teammates Brad Higgins, Alejandro Torres, Quinby, and Porras singled.
Shortstop Ben Hughes, who ended the tournament with a .643 on-base percentage, put out seven baserunners.
“The second we got the ball, we had to get rid of it. They were that fast,” Zanotto said. “We were just tired after this tournament. I think we all need a vacation.”
For Taiwan, Chang Yu Fan scored twice while batting 3 for 4, Wang Wei-Han scored twice, Wang Chung Ying was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Ting Cho Yuan drove in a run and scored, Peng Chieh Ming doubled and plated a run and Chien Yuan Hsiao was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
