TRACY — Northgate put up four runs behind no hits in the second inning Thursday and held on for a 6-4 win over Tracy in the consolation final of the District 67 Juniors All-Star Tournament at Monticello School.
There were six Northgate walks in the second inning. Leadoff batter Ace Avelar (2 for 2, two RBI, two runs, two walks) and Brandon Pine drew bases-loaded walks to drive in Cody Lee and Sal Ellis, Shane Turpin (two runs) scored on an A.J. Vasquez groundout and Avelar came in on an error off the bat of Sage Bordenave to make the score 5-2.
Avelar scored in the first inning after singling and working his way to third when a wild pitch went out of play, and in the third inning he singled in Turpin to make the score 6-2.
In five innings of work for Northgate, Avelar struck out seven and walked four, allowing two runs.  Nick Ridgewell came in with one out and two on in the sixth, struck out the first batter he faced but then gave up a two-out two-RBI single before yielding a pair of walks to load the bases. Ridgewell then induced a groundout to end the threat.
In the seventh inning, two walks and a fielder’s choice gave Tracy runners at first and second with two outs. Ridgewell came up big again, notching a strikeout to end the game and Tracy’s season, sending Northgate to the championship round tonight.
Northgate faces Spreckels Park at 5:30 p.m. today. A Northgate win forces a winner-take-all contest Saturday morning.