Pinto Division
Cardinals vs. Padres
For the Cardinals, Michael Dukes got an RBI early in the game. Nelson Pyle had a three-run homer in the first inning.
Jimmy Hagan, Brandon Cressi and Parker Tamura all had RBI’s. Garrison Buss and Michael Dukes both hit triples. Matt Gamez hit a double in the third inning.
Defensively, Nelson Pyle and Brandon Cressi teamed up to make some great plays in the first inning. Michael Dukes provided good fielding to prevent extra bases.
For the Padres defensively, Mitch Hickey made a great throw to Vincent Czeropski, who scooped the ball making the first out of the game. Ben Nuno caught a fly for the second out.
Later in the game, Timmy Groen and Dylan Draut made key plays to prevent runners from advancing. Pitching in the the second inning, Adrian Garcia scooped the ball and threw to first base for an out.
Offensively, Vince Czeropski, Ben Nuno, Mitch Hickey, Dylan Draut, Adrian Garcia and Derek Rousseu all had RBI’s. Justin Gerard’s fast running got him a single in the second inning.
Mustang Division
Twins 14, Cardinals 4
The Twins played on of their best offensive and defensive games of the year. Pitching for the Twins was split between Kai Von and Nick Price, who held the Cardinals to just four hits. Derrick Taylor, Dominic Changco, Trevor Fuhriman and Tom Rowland picked up the hits for the Cardinals. Price hit a grand slam for the Twins. Chad Adams had a single and a double, Von had a double and a triple and Leland McDonald hit a home run.
Defensively for the Cardinals, Changco, Ryan Mason, Ryan Capozza all pitched well. Carlos Naranjo played a solid game at second base. Tyler Nielsen had a couple nice catches in right field for the Twins.
Bronco Division
South Bay 10, MH 7
The MHPB Bronco Red team, one of the MHPB Memorial Weekend tournament teams, won the FBI (Fremont Baseball Incorporated)12U tournament. The tournament was played in Fremont at the FBI Bronco field at Harvey Green School. In the first game, the Red team lost to a South Bay Yankees, a 12U travel team, but then came back to win the title. The familiarity with the Yankees may have led the team to underestimate how good they were.
Even though the Red team was down 10–2, going into the top of the fifth inning, they did not give up. The team scored a run started with a single by Rauley Cambra and a double by Robert Adam. In the sixth inning, the Red team scored two more runs on a single by Kevin Saign followed by Eric Sanchez’ home run. In the seventh inning, the Red team scored two more runs on a double by Phillip Thrappas, a single by Charlie McClung and a double by Kevin Saign. The Red team was able to stop the scoring of the South Bay Yankees with great pitching from Robert Adam who allowed one hit and gave up no earned runs and had five strikeouts in the last three innings.
MH 9, Peninsula 0
In the afternoon game against the Peninsula Braves, another 12U travel team, a different Red team took the field. From the start, the players and coaches knew they could not lose any more games and still have a chance to advance to the championship round.
The Red team scored four runs in the first three innings with hits from Phillip Thrappas, Robert Adam and a couple of errors by the Braves. The Braves were shut out on terrific pitching by Kevin Saign, who held the Brave to two hits. Alika Bantilan pitched the last three innings. He not only held the Braves scoreless, but hitless as well, and struck out six batters. Five more runs were added on hits by Charlie McClung, Kevin Saign, Ryan Moyano and Sean LaBranche.
MH 13, FBI 3
On Sunday, the Red team played the “home town” favorite, FBI A Team. The FBI A Team had beaten the South Bay Yankees 2-11 so the Red team knew this would be a tough game. The Morgan Hill squad scored two runs on a line drive home run by Kevin Saign and then broke it open by scoring six runs in the second inning with a barrage of hits by Alika Bantilan, Matt Nilmeyer, Phillip Thrappas, Robert Adam and Charlie McClung. Kevin Saign held FBI scoreless for the first three innings, giving up only one hit. FBI was able to get three runs after a couple of hits and a home run in the fourth inning. Defensively, shortstop Phillip Thrappas recorded all three putouts in the sixth inning. Also playing well defensively in right field was Travis Thompson who made a couple of nice catches including a diving “web gem.”
MH 14, Pacifica 3
The first championship game was played against the Pacifica Chaos, a 12U travel team. The MHPB Bronco Red team battered the Pacifica Chaos team by stacking up 18 hits, scoring in every inning and mounting a total of 14 runs. Charlie McClung and Kevin Saign hit home runs. Also, pitching well for the MHPB Bronco Red team was McClung, who pitched four shutout innings, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts. Ryan Moyano and Matt Nilmeyer pitched the last innings combining to hold Chaos to three runs on five hits.
MH 7, Tri-City 0
The championship game was played against the Tri-City Rangers, another 12U travel team, who was unbeaten in the tournament and had previously beaten the MHPB Bronco Blue Team on Saturday. Fantastic pitching by Kevin Saign and Alika Bantilan combined to shutout the Rangers. The duo gave up five hits, four walks and had 10 strikeouts. The 11-hit game was led by another home run by Robert Adam, a hard hit double by Dylan Davis and errorless defense which featured a nice catch by Gabe Mancias in left field on a hard hit ball by one of the Rangers. Kevin Saign was named tournament MVP
Pony Division
MH 15, Rocklin 1
The Pony Baseball 13-year-old All-Star team travelled to Seaside over the Memorial Weekend holiday and finished with a 4-1 record, losing in the semifinal game. Playing against mostly 14-year-old teams, the squad from Morgan Hill won its “pool” of five teams in the early rounds and advanced to the semifinals by defeating the Salinas All-Stars. In the semifinal, they ran into the tournament’s only other undefeated team, the Napa River Rats, and fell 10-3. Napa went on to win the championship game by shutting out their opponent.
After a scoreless first inning, Morgan Hill exploded for four runs in the top of the second. Consecutive hits by James Johnson, Vince Hatakeyama and Billy Hill led the rally. With two outs, Jonathan Hughes singled in Danny Nelson and Koedy Brant. Starting pitcher Matt Cummins shut down the Patriots, allowing just one run over four innings, while striking out six. Cummins was aided by his defense. In the fourth inning right fielder Kevin Grove threw out a runner attempting to go from first to third on a base hit. Hughes came in to pitch two scoreless innings, and closer James Johnson retired the side in order in the seventh. Morgan Hill put the game away in the fifth inning, scoring six runs, as Cummins and Grove both had RBI doubles. Celebrating his 13th birthday, Hill went 4-for-5 to lead Morgan Hill. The Morgan Hill team did not commit an error in their opening game.
MH 14, Diablo Reds 0
Starting pitcher Kevin Grove and reliever Vince Hatakeyama combined on a four-hit shutout to defeat the squad from Danville. In the first inning, Morgan Hill plated five runs as Danny Nelson, Billy Hill, Grove, James Johnson and Hatakeyama all scored after consecutive hits. Hatakeyama went 3-for-4 and Grove had two doubles and four RBIs for Morgan Hill. Nelson reached base four times as did Johnson for the offense. Morgan Hill’s defense was again very solid, committing just one error. Hatakeyama and Grove both contributed when not pitching as each threw out a runner at first from right field. Matt Cummins had three assists at second base.
MH 7, Seaside 6
In their closest game of the tournament, the Morgan Hill team defeated Seaside 7-6 in extra innings, knocking the hosts out of their own tournament. Both teams entered the contest with 2-0 records, and the Seaside squad got on top early, scoring three runs in the first inning off starting pitcher Ryan Evanger. Evanger settled down and pitched three strong innings, retiring the side in order in the second.
Morgan Hill scored single runs in the first and second innings, as Jonathan Hughes walked and scored on a Billy Hill single. Robert Barsanti led off with a single in the second inning, and Stephen Smith singled as well. After a sacrifice bunt by Danny Nelson, Barsanti scored on a wild pitch. Morgan Hill took the lead in the fourth inning, as Nelson singled, Hughes reached on an error, and Matt Cummins’ double drove in Nelson. Koedy Brant hit a sacrifice fly to score Hughes, and Cummins scored on another wild pitch. In the fifth inning, Morgan Hill scored again to extend the lead, as both Christian Lam and Vince Hatakeyama singled. The host team rallied to tie the score in the sixth inning, as they strung together three hits and were aided by a Morgan Hill error. Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning, and closing pitcher James Johnson retired the Seaside squad in the eighth inning, picking off a runner from first who had reached on an error. In the bottom of the inning, Seaside retired the first two Morgan Hill batters. Cummins was hit by a pitch, and pinch runner Billy Hill stole second base. With Kevin Grove at bat and facing a 3-2 count, Hill took off for third as Grove swung threw ball four. However, the catcher missed the ball. As Grove hustled to first base, Hill scored the winning run on a head first dive to the plate, sending Morgan Hill to the single-elimination playoffs.
MH 14, Salinas 3
Morgan Hill jumped on top 4-0 in the top of the first inning, as Danny Nelson and Jonathan Hughes both singled ahead of Matt Cummins’ two-RBI double. James Johnson and Billy Hill also had singles, with Cummins and Johnson scoring. Starting pitcher Hughes pitched five very strong innings, notching two strikeouts. Salinas scored a run in the first inning on two base hits. In the top of the second inning, Morgan Hill matched the Salinas run with one of its own, as Hughes reached base on a fielders’ choice and eventually scored. Salinas brought the score to 5-3 in the third inning, as a leadoff walk and a base hit eventually resulted in runs. The outstanding center field play of Nelson, who made seven putouts and saved four extra-base hits.
Hughes was relieved by closer Kevin Grove, who came in to retire the side in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, the Morgan Hill offense exploded for nine runs, as Hughes, Cummins and Grove all reached base safely twice in the inning. James Johnson, Cummins and Hughes all had three hits for Morgan Hill, and Billy Hill went 2-for-4. Nelson, Grove, Stephen Smith and Koedy Brant all had hits for the Morgan Hill offense. With the game well in hand, Grove closed out the win in the seventh with two strikeouts.
Napa 10, MH 3
The younger Morgan Hill squad battled the 14-year-old travel team from the wine country in the final game. Starting pitcher Matt Cummins loaded the bases in the first inning, but didn’t allow a run as he struck out the Rats’ leading hitter and was helped by his defense for the other two outs. In the top of the second inning, Napa took advantage of some timely hitting and Morgan Hill miscues to score three runs, two of which were unearned. Vince Hatakeyama came in to relieve Cummins, and promptly induced a double play ground ball turned by Cummins. Morgan Hill rallied in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game, as James Johnson, Kevin Grove and Billy Hill all reached base. Ryan Evanger singled in the first Morgan Hill run, followed by an RBI-walk by Koedy Brant. Jonathan Hughes also drew an RBI-walk to even the score. The Napa offense was too strong, as they plated two runs in the third and fourth innings and rounded out the scoring with three more in the fifth inning.
Playing almost flawless defense for the tournament, the PONY-13 team had several errors in this last game. Robert Barsanti made a very nice running catch in right-center to cut another rally short. For Morgan Hill, James Johnson relieved Hatakeyama and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Morgan Hill PONY-13 team members will finish up its regular season and playoffs with their individual teams, and then move on to the Sectional All-Stars which begin on the July fourth weekend.
Braves 9, A’s 4
In the top of the first inning, Chris Arce led off the game with a walk and stole second. He reached third on a fielders choice but was stranded their by great pitching and defense from Ryan Evanger and Andrew Chirri. Blaine Sutton struck out the two first A’s batters in the first inning, but the A’s scored four runs with those two outs and a couple hard hit balls, a two RBI hit by O’Rourke and a double by Taylor O’Connell, who later scored. The Braves got Marinovich on third with a walk, a stolen base and a fielder’s choice. Chirri and Evanger had good defensive plays and pitching to strand him at third. Arce shut down the A’s in the second and third innings and finished with five strikeouts. The Braves loaded the bases with one out and walks to Michael Jennings, Christian Lam and Robert Barsante. Evanger struck out the next two and left with four strikeouts, no hits and no runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, a hit by Timmy O’Rourke, great presence by Taylor O’Connell to reach on a past ball strike out and a two-RBI single by Nick Carlson scored two for the A’s. The Braves scored one in the fifth with singles by Mike Kozacek and Michael Jennings. The A’s matched that run when Kevin Vye singled, stole second, reached third on a past ball and scored on a sacrifice by O’Rourke. O’Connell pitched the last four innings for the A’s giving up four hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts. The A’s scored two in the bottom of the sixth when Matt Kelly singled, Jeff Heil doubled and Kevin Vye singled.
The Braves came out swinging in the top of the seventh with a double by Lam and hard hit balls by Barsante, Sutton, Chris Wong and Kevin Oropeza scoring two before the A’s Jeff Heil threw a runner out trying to steel third and Taylor O’Connell retired the side.
Yankees 4, D’backs 1
Chris Barber of the Yankees and John Stemel of the Diamondbacks engaged in probably the best pitching duel of the season. Both of these second year players pitched five innings and could have gone longer if the rules permitted. Barber surrendered only three hits and one walk while striking out 11 of the Snakes. Stemel gave up only one hit – a double to Jim Molnar in the second inning – and two walks. The score was tied 1-1 when the starters left the hill. Kenny Howell relieved Barber and pitched two scoreless innings to get the save. Howell made two good plays to stop potential hits from going through the middle. Michael Giancola relieved Stemel and pitched well, but was let down by some poor plays and timely Yankee hits.
Barber led off the game with a walk, stole second and went to third on Blake Winzeler’s grounder. Barber scored on a passed ball. The 1-0 lead held up until the fifth inning when, with two outs, Joey Stryker homered into the gap in right center field. In the sixth inning with two outs, Howell singled and stole second. He scored on a throwing error, which also put Cameron Willis at second base. Timmy Davey then plated Willis with a single. In the seventh inning, Robert Silva singled and Jake Plafker was safe on an error. Silva eventually scored on a passed ball.
Diamondback catcher Eric Martin snuffed out the rally with a great throw to second base to pick off Plafker. Howell then closed out the game without letting the tying run come to the plate.
