MORGAN HILL
– The Angels advanced to this Thursday’s PONY Championship Game,
by defeating the Giants 10-3. In the top of the first, starting
pitcher Jonathan Hughes retired the Giants with a double-play
assist from centerfielder Anthony Guidry, second baseman Danny
Nelson, and first baseman Chris Sanine off
a long fly ball by Giants’ slugger Nick Sandoval.
MORGAN HILL – The Angels advanced to this Thursday’s PONY Championship Game, by defeating the Giants 10-3.
In the top of the first, starting pitcher Jonathan Hughes retired the Giants with a double-play assist from centerfielder Anthony Guidry, second baseman Danny Nelson, and first baseman Chris Sanine off a long fly ball by Giants’ slugger Nick Sandoval.
The Angels then went on to score four runs in the bottom of the inning, as Nelson led off with a home run, Kevin Grove drove in James Johnson – who had singled – and Guidry blasted a two-run shot. The Giants scored in the top of the second, as Brian Yates led off with a triple, and scored on a base hit by Troy Pearson. The Angels turned their second double pla to get out of further trouble as Grove snagged a liner at third and tagged out the runner.
Hughes pitched three strong innings – notching three strikeouts and allowing only one walk and two hits.
The Angels added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Billy Hill tripled, Johnson singled, Hughes reached on an error, and Grove and Guidry both singled. Kevin Mom and Sanine both walked, but Pearson got out of further trouble by picking off one runner and striking out another Angels hitter.
Grove came in to pitch three innings for the Angels, and also allowed just one run, while striking out three with one walk and three hits.
The Angels scored two more in the fourth inning, as Hughes blasted a home run after Hill had singled. In the bottom of the sixth, Hill finished the scoring for the Angels with their fourth home run, with the bases empty. Hill went 3-for-4 and was only a double away from hitting for the cycle.
Johnson came in to close the door in the seventh, striking out two.
For the Giants, Pearson went 2-for-3, and Brian Costello, Zach Niehaus, and Sandoval all had hits. Jason Conrad turned an unassisted double play in the sixth inning. The Angels will now face the Cardinals, who defeated the Yankees on Tuesday.
