Morgan Hill left the Mustang-9 West Zone Tournament at Creekside
Park with commemorative pins, division milestones and experience
that could lead to greater bounty next summer. There was no room on
the team bus for disappointment. Not after Morgan Hill was one of
the last four teams in the championship tournament of 12 states,
thus advancing farther than any Mustang All-Star team in city
history
WALNUT
Morgan Hill left the Mustang-9 West Zone Tournament at Creekside Park with commemorative pins, division milestones and experience that could lead to greater bounty next summer.
There was no room on the team bus for disappointment. Not after Morgan Hill was one of the last four teams in the championship tournament of 12 states, thus advancing farther than any Mustang All-Star team in city history.
Their goal was to bring home another banner. And though they felt short of playing for one with Saturday’s 14-2 loss to eventual champion Mid Valley, the Morgan Hill players could keep their heads up knowing they accomplished what few teams do on the big stage.
“They maximized their potential,” Morgan Hill manager Vince LaGatta said Monday. “Everything we asked for, they gave us. I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids.”
That same group finished in the top four at last year’s the Pinto World Series, where it experienced a new level of competition against Los Angeles-area travel ball teams. Morgan Hill lost its opener then by 12-2 score to North Valley — and received another rude awakening Thursday in an 8-4 loss to 2010 Pinto champion Corona.
LaGatta’s confidence in his team was not shaken.
“I thought we matched up well with them,” he said Friday. “I thought our kids were just a little jittery. We fell behind early, battled back with some good baseball, and it just didn’t work out.
“We’ll be more focused and ready next time.”
Facing elimination, Morgan Hill lived up to its manager’s words Friday with back-to-back victories — the first two by a Morgan Hill team in Mustang zone play — over La Canada and Corona.
Morgan Hill outslugged La Canada behind an inside-the-park home run by Zack Gieg and RBI doubles by Cory Taylor and Gio Saso, who had a huge weekend. Ryan Swing and Vinnie LaGatta reached base several times atop the lineup, and Jonathan Singleton drove in runs and was a backstop behind the plate.
Morgan Hill cleanly laid down several bunts, including a successful squeeze, and ran the bases well, as highlighted by Jack Tomlinson stealing home off the pitcher.
The Central Region champs collected their first of two double plays on the day, with second baseman Tommy Troy backhanding the ball to shortstop Vinnie LaGatta who then threw to first.
“That win against La Canada is what really got our confidence going,” said Vince LaGatta, whose team led 7-0 after the first inning. “We got our swagger back a bit and had the energy we needed to get going.”
Morgan Hill got payback with more of the same Friday afternoon against Corona. The locals’ offense was on display during an 11-4 victory, but they ended the game with a twin-killing by Owen Ekstrom, who snagged a line drive and stepped on third base to get the lead runner.
Vince LaGatta likened the victory to his team’s 11-10 triumph over Paso Robles in their July 17 region final. Paso Robles twice beat LaGatta’s club the previous week to win their section title.
“We’ve faced adversity throughout this process in the last two years that we overcame,” he said. “We’ve been battle-tested. These kids have more heart and more desire than any group I’ve seen. … When they apply that to development of their skills, I think they can accomplish any goal they set forth.”
Morgan Hill’s 2011 odyssey ended Saturday at the hands of Mid Valley–Encino, another Southern California power.
“They reminded me of North Valley from last year,” Vince LaGatta said. “If we’re going to lose, might as well lose to a champion.”
While Mid Valley trounced Camarillo 14-5 in Sunday’s final, Morgan Hill players went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and enjoyed a stress-free day as normal 9-year-olds.
“They’ve earned it,” LaGatta said.
