LATHROP — After giving up an unearned run in the top of the first, Northgate Little League all-star pitcher Estevon Salazar got all the offense support he needed in the bottom half at Mossdale Park Wednesday.
Aided by six Weston Ranch errors, Northgate exploded for 12 runs while sending 16 batters to the plate in the opening frame and surged to a 16-5 win. The victory keeps Northgate alive in the District 67 All-Star Tournament with crosstown rival Spreckels Park looming as its next opponent tonight at 6.
Salazar did well to work his way out of trouble in his 2 1/3-inning start. He left five runners on base and struck out five while giving up three hits and two walks.
Daniel Williams reached on an infield single and later scored Weston Ranch’s first run on a wild pitch. That was before Northgate struck with 16 unanswered runs.
Leadoff hitter Danny Marquez (2 for 3, three runs, RBI double) tied it on an errant throw back to the pitcher, and Jacob Sousa (three runs) gave Northgate the lead for good after scoring on a wild pitch.
The rout was on.
Tyler Soulier knocked in three runs on two hits in the inning alone, finishing 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Tim Couch drove in two with an infield single. The big play came from Braydon Goodnough, whose misplayed shot to straightaway center field scored three.
Salazar (2 for 3, three RBIs, two runs) padded the lead in the second, driving in two with a solid shot to right before plating Northgate’s final run.
Colby Bacon, who was 2 for 2 with two runs at the plate, pitched a 1 1/3 innings in relief for the win and struck out four.
Weston Ranch, to its credit, went down swinging. Weston Ranch capitalized on three errors in the fourth inning to scratch across the rest of its runs. Gerardo Fuentes and Matt Julien drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks; and Ray Acosta and Matt Spaulding each roped a hit and scored a run in the inning.
Solid pitching helped keep Manteca in the game, as starter Jacob Moon fanned eight batters in his four-plus innings of work. Leadoff hitter Alex Gouveia went 2 for 3 with a run to spearhead the offense.
Manteca trailed in the early going until Ryan Ward and Matthew Ender each plated a run to tie it in the bottom of the fourth. Tournament host Lathrop takes on Tracy American today at 6 p.m..
Aided by six Weston Ranch errors, Northgate exploded for 12 runs while sending 16 batters to the plate in the opening frame and surged to a 16-5 win. The victory keeps Northgate alive in the District 67 All-Star Tournament with crosstown rival Spreckels Park looming as its next opponent tonight at 6.
Salazar did well to work his way out of trouble in his 2 1/3-inning start. He left five runners on base and struck out five while giving up three hits and two walks.
Daniel Williams reached on an infield single and later scored Weston Ranch’s first run on a wild pitch. That was before Northgate struck with 16 unanswered runs.
Leadoff hitter Danny Marquez (2 for 3, three runs, RBI double) tied it on an errant throw back to the pitcher, and Jacob Sousa (three runs) gave Northgate the lead for good after scoring on a wild pitch.
The rout was on.
Tyler Soulier knocked in three runs on two hits in the inning alone, finishing 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Tim Couch drove in two with an infield single. The big play came from Braydon Goodnough, whose misplayed shot to straightaway center field scored three.
Salazar (2 for 3, three RBIs, two runs) padded the lead in the second, driving in two with a solid shot to right before plating Northgate’s final run.
Colby Bacon, who was 2 for 2 with two runs at the plate, pitched a 1 1/3 innings in relief for the win and struck out four.
Weston Ranch, to its credit, went down swinging. Weston Ranch capitalized on three errors in the fourth inning to scratch across the rest of its runs. Gerardo Fuentes and Matt Julien drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks; and Ray Acosta and Matt Spaulding each roped a hit and scored a run in the inning.
Tracy American ‘A’ 4, Manteca 3
LATHROP — With a chance to tie it in the sixth, Manteca left two runners on to end Wednesday’s consolation-bracket thriller. Miles Turner scored the deciding run for Tracy American in the top of the fifth.Solid pitching helped keep Manteca in the game, as starter Jacob Moon fanned eight batters in his four-plus innings of work. Leadoff hitter Alex Gouveia went 2 for 3 with a run to spearhead the offense.
Manteca trailed in the early going until Ryan Ward and Matthew Ender each plated a run to tie it in the bottom of the fourth. Tournament host Lathrop takes on Tracy American today at 6 p.m..
