Morgan Hill All-Stars win 14-4 Monday in elimination play
LOS GATOS — The Morgan Hill Pony All-Stars were glad to be back at practice Tuesday, their regional hopes alive for at least a few more days.
Manager Manny Brum described Monday’s 14-4 victory in six innings over Sunnyvale/Cupertino like a breath of fresh air for his talented group of 14-year-olds, who are meshing in the nick of time at the Los Gatos Sectional. They still have their backs to the wall in the double-elimination tournament after dropping their opener Sunday, 18-8, to San Jose PAL. Morgan Hill can rest easy, though, until its next game Friday at Fisher Middle School.
“It’s definitely a relief getting a win like that. They needed it,” Brum said. “We’ve been practicing together for four weeks now, but it’s hard because they’re All-Stars. We have 12 individuals that were The Man on their teams in the regular season. It was a challenge pulling them together, but they’re getting it. They’re starting to build the teamwork they need to be successful.”
A day after fumbling away a 6-0 lead against San Jose PAL, Morgan Hill looked sharp in the field. Pitcher Kyle Quadros paced the defense with a complete-game effort that included 13 strikeouts. He struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings.
“He just got stronger as the game went on,” Brum said. “The other guys were being more vocal on the field. They’re talking to each other in a different way.”
Morgan Hill delivered another solid afternoon at the plate with 19 hits and three walks. Joshua Priest batted 3 for 4 with a double, Alan Engle finished 3 for 3, and Morgan Brum went 2 for 3 and scored three times.
The local team chipped in runs each inning, eventually ending the game by 10-run rule.
“They were happy to get this one under their belts,” Manny Brum said. “Now, we get to let our pitchers rest their arms. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going.”
Brum’s team could end up playing five games in three days this weekend. It all starts with a rematch against San Jose PAL at 5:30 p.m. Friday, a chance for Morgan Hill to show its true side. The winner will clinch a top-four finish and play its next game Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. The loser will go home.
“We have the confidence to go in there and win this game,” Manny Brum said. “We know we have the talent to be successful. We’ve just got to make it happen.”
The losers’ bracket final is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The championship round begins at 10 a.m. Sunday with a second game, if necessary, slated to start a half hour after Game 1.
