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Northgate 10U All-Stars roll to Section 6 final
Little League Minor All-Stars
Jackson Frisk started on the mound and went two innings, giving up two runs on one hit while striking out four Saturday in Northgate’s 12-2 win over Moraga in the opening round of the Section 6 Tournament in Stockton. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

IONE — A towering two-run first-inning home run by Northgate’s Nolan Mendes scored Graham Alan and spearheaded a balanced attack that saw eight batters account for the nine Northgate hits on the way to a five-inning 12-2 mercy-rule win for the District 67 representative over District 8-Moraga in opening-round action Saturday in the Section 6 10-And-Under All-Star Tournament at Howard Park.

Following a four-run fourth inning to go ahead 6-2, Northgate busted the game wide open with six runs in the fifth. After Mendes came in on an error off the bat of Ealin Showers, back-to-back singles by Ilias Leon and Isaiah Barron plated Eli Jimenez (two runs) and Showers. Manoah Ellis added a two-RBI single to score Leon and Barron and stole home for the run that eventually ended the game.

Carson Beck (2 for 3, double) doubled to lead off the Northgate fourth and was replaced on the base paths by Allen who stole home when Jimenez stole second and drew the throw. John Ellis singled to score Jimenez and Jack Benedetti doubled, scoring Rylan Luna and Ellis.

Jackson Frisk started on the hill for Northgate, going two innings with two runs on two hits while striking out four. Beck took over in the third and went 2.2 shutout innings, striking out six and allowing two hits. Showers came in and got the final out via a line drive to Beck at first.

Morada got its two runs in the second inning. Jonathan Fong walked and Charlie Foreman was hit by a pitch. Both scored on a double by Noah Martinez.

Northgate will play in the championship round Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against either Moraga or Turlock American.

 

Northgate 10, Turlock American 0 (5)

Northgate picked up where it left off on Saturday, scoring three runs in each of the first three innings before Mendes blasted a walk-off double in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday to invoke the mercy rule against Turlock American-District 73.

Northgate scored three runs in each of the first three innings before Mendes’ walk-off, with Mendes posting a highlight game. He went 4 for 4 with a pair of RBI doubles and knocked in four runs while scoring three. Frisk (RBI) also went 4 for 4. Showers had an RBI double and Jimenez added an RBI.

Jimenez started at pitcher and pitched 2.1 innings, striking out four. Mendes came in and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam, going 2.1 innings and striking out the side in the fourth on just nine pitches, tallying seven of Northgate’s 11 strikeouts. Leon came in to close the game got the one out he needed when he induced a ground ball to Beck at first who made a great grab and an unassisted put-out to end the game.