The Morgan Hill Mustang A team survived the battle of Morgan Hill on Thursday in an elimination game at the Region 8 Pony League All-Star tournament in San Jose, squeezing past Morgan Hill B 8-7.
After the game’s first three innings, though, the score could have been different.
Morgan Hill A jumped on the B squad early in the game to lead 8-0. After scoring two runs in the first two innings, the bats of Morgan Hill A’s Vinnie Lagatta – who finished 2-for-3 – starting pitcher Gio Saso Cory Taylor jumped on Morgan Hill B pitching.
The A team scored six runs in the top of the third to take the 8-0 lead and – seemingly – control of the game. But that wasn’t the case.
“We felt like we were in control of the game,” A team manager Vince Lagatta said. “But give credit to the B team for fighting back.”
After falling behind 8-0, the Morgan Hill B team found a spark by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning. An RBI single by Will Waxman was followed with a two run home run by Colton Moorehead to turn the tide of the game.
The Morgan Hill B team added four more runs in the fifth inning to pull within one run. Moorehead, Pablo Causor and Tyler Keenan started the B team offensive rally.
The B team, though, remained down one run entering the game’s final frame. After two quick outs by A-team closer Karson Mazzotti, the B team rallied once again.
Cooper Callison walked to represent the tying run, for Waxman, who won the previous game for Morgan Hill B on a walk-off single. Waxman connected on a line drive but it sailed into the hands of shortstop Lagatta to end the game.
Vince Lagatta, who is the director of the Morgan Hill Mustang Division, was proud of both teams and excited for the future of the city’s baseball program.
“They clearly defined themselves as the third best team here,” Lagatta said. “It is very exciting for what the future holds … I think they played well and showed a lot of heart and guts. I couldn’t ask for a greater group of kids.”
With the win, Morgan Hill A advanced to the semifinals against Fremont on Friday in San Jose. If Morgan Hill A wins, they advance to the championship round against Blossom Valley No. 1 – the only team to beat Morgan Hill so far. Look for an update.
