Local All-Stars oust regional host; next game Saturday
SAN JOSE — Morgan Hill scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to beat San Jose PAL 8-5 Thursday and stay alive in the Mustang Regional at PAL Stadium.
Morgan Hill sent home the tournament host behind another big game by slugger Chris Turner, who was 3-for-3 batting with a double and two RBIs. Teammate Christopher Knopf struck out four in as many innings of relief to get the win.
Morgan Hill, which was coming off an 8-4 opening loss to Marina, will face the loser of today’s game between Sierra and Toro at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in elimination play.
“I think this was a huge confidence booster for our team,” Morgan Hill manager Dave Knopf said Friday. “PAL was a good team, and for them to come back after a loss and get a win under their belts shows a lot.”
San Jose PAL broke a 1-1 tie with one run in the second inning before pushing ahead 4-2 in the third and 5-2 midway through the fifth. With the top of order coming up in the bottom half, Morgan Hill was able to crack San Jose PAL’s tough pitching.
“Even though we started slow, I think the boys adjusted well,” Dave Knopf said. “Once they relaxed, they started hitting better.”
Nathan Alejo started the rally with a lead-off base hit. He stole second and third and scored on Christopher Knopf’s fielder’s choice for the second out. Graham Grisedale followed with a base hit to bring home Turner, and Ethan Crawford doubled in Grisedale for the tying run. Crawford scored on a botched pick-off attempt to push Morgan Hill ahead 6-5. The local team piled on RBI-base hits by Alex Petroskey and Mason Handa.
Turner scored Knopf on a double in the first inning and brought home Alejo with a single in the third.
“Chris has been hitting the ball well for us,” Dave Knopf said.
Morgan Hill starter Ryan Denure went two innings, striking out two and surrendering one earned run against eight batters.
