The season for the Morgan Hill Mustang A team ended Monday one win away from the Pony Baseball Super Region championship game in Ceres.
Playing in an elimination double header, Morgan Hill defeated rival Paso Robles 7-1 in the early game but was eliminated after falling to Sierra Valley for the tournament’s second time 9-7.
Against Paso Robles – a team Morgan Hill has faced five times in the past two years – Morgan Hill struck for three second-inning runs to take command of the game. Hits by Gio Saso, Zach Geig and Cory Taylor started the rally for the A team. They scored their final run when Blake Mercurio stole home with two outs.
Paso Robles pulled closer with one run in the third inning, but that was as close as they would get. Morgan Hill responded with a 3-run home run by Geig in the fourth inning to open up the game.
“That really broke their backs,” manager Vince Lagatta said.
On the mound, Saso, Taylor and Vinnie Lagatta combined to allow only one run in six innings.
“Our pitching was lights out,” Vince Lagatta said. “It was a very good performance and a major accomplishment for our team.”
But three hours later, the Morgan Hill season ended with a 9-7 loss to Sierra Valley. It was Morgan Hill’s second loss to Sierra Valley in five Super Regional games.
“I think we were just a little gassed at the beginning,” Lagatta said. “To play back-to-back games is extremely difficult especially for 10-year-olds.”
With Will Hansboro on the mound for Morgan Hill, Sierra Valley scored three runs in the first inning and four runs in the second inning to build a 7-2 lead.
Sierra Valley extended its lead to 9-2 before Morgan Hill’s offense started to find some momentum. Good defense – including a double play – sparked Morgan Hill late in the game.
Behind Saso, Geig and Jonathan Singleton, Morgan Hill scored the game’s next five runs to pull within two runs in the final inning. After back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth frame, Morgan Hill lined into a game-ending double play.
“With the tying runs on second and third, it was a disappointing way to end it,” Lagatta said. “We just ran out of gas near the end. I’m so proud of this team and what they were able to accomplish. This takes a lot out of somebody. But with the will and determination of the team – there is no quit in the team – we were able to maximize our potential. I’m excited with the progress they’ve made.”
