The Northgate Little League Junior all-stars bounced back after forfeiting a five-run lead with a seven-run fifth inning to cruise past Tracy National 16-10 Tuesday at Sierra High.
The victory moved Northgate into the District 67 championship game Saturday with its opponent to be determined in losers bracket action. A victory Saturday would give Northgate the title, but a loss would force them into a winner-takes-all contest Sunday.
Northgate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat, as both Dakota Conners and Joe Menzel came around to score after base hits. Conners swiped second and third before advancing home on a wild pitch that Menzel would eventually score on after an errant throw to third.
Starting pitcher Andrew Ruiz was effective early, holding Tracy National to a run in the first and a run in the second. He got into trouble in the third, but was able to work out of a bases loaded jam by inducing a pop-up, a ground-ball to third and a strikeout to end the Tracy threat.
Tracy was able to get things going in the fourth, thanks to a couple of Northgate errors and a bases clearing double from Spencer Blackwell. Blackwell’s double tied it up at 7-7 and kicked the Northgate offense into gear.
Ruiz led off the fifth, but couldn’t finish his at-bat after fouling a ball off his left leg. Nate Sutton came on to finish the at-bat and drew a full-count walk after a 25 minute delay. Northgate responded after his at-bat with three consecutive walks and back-to-back RBI base hits from Brad Tajii and Conners for a five-run cushion.
Northgate would add another run when Sutton came back to the plate and got an RBI single and then a pair in their half of the sixth. With Ruiz departed in a ambulance, Northgate brought on Robbie Gleockler to close the door. Gleockler got a three-up three-down fifth and retired Tracy National without excitement in the seventh to finalize the win.
Conners finished the game 4 for 4 with a double, five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Gleockler was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, and Tajii finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Northgate will next play at 10 a.m. Saturday at Monticello Field in Tracy.
The victory moved Northgate into the District 67 championship game Saturday with its opponent to be determined in losers bracket action. A victory Saturday would give Northgate the title, but a loss would force them into a winner-takes-all contest Sunday.
Northgate jumped out to a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat, as both Dakota Conners and Joe Menzel came around to score after base hits. Conners swiped second and third before advancing home on a wild pitch that Menzel would eventually score on after an errant throw to third.
Starting pitcher Andrew Ruiz was effective early, holding Tracy National to a run in the first and a run in the second. He got into trouble in the third, but was able to work out of a bases loaded jam by inducing a pop-up, a ground-ball to third and a strikeout to end the Tracy threat.
Tracy was able to get things going in the fourth, thanks to a couple of Northgate errors and a bases clearing double from Spencer Blackwell. Blackwell’s double tied it up at 7-7 and kicked the Northgate offense into gear.
Ruiz led off the fifth, but couldn’t finish his at-bat after fouling a ball off his left leg. Nate Sutton came on to finish the at-bat and drew a full-count walk after a 25 minute delay. Northgate responded after his at-bat with three consecutive walks and back-to-back RBI base hits from Brad Tajii and Conners for a five-run cushion.
Northgate would add another run when Sutton came back to the plate and got an RBI single and then a pair in their half of the sixth. With Ruiz departed in a ambulance, Northgate brought on Robbie Gleockler to close the door. Gleockler got a three-up three-down fifth and retired Tracy National without excitement in the seventh to finalize the win.
Conners finished the game 4 for 4 with a double, five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Gleockler was 3 for 4 with three runs scored, and Tajii finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Northgate will next play at 10 a.m. Saturday at Monticello Field in Tracy.
