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SPRECKELS PARK TAKES OUT LATHROP
Alejo, Poncini mash homers to lead third-straight victory
BASE-SP-vs-LTP-maj-pic-4
Spreckels Park base runner Mike Garibay beats the throw to Lathrop catcher Alex Grajeda while scoring on a wild pitch. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO

TRACY — Spreckels Park Little League’s 11-12-year-old all-stars are a win away from making it an all-Manteca party.

Spreckels advances to the District 67 Tournament consolation-bracket quarterfinal after getting past Lathrop 9-0 Thursday at Jefferson School.

Spreckels will duke it out with Tracy National, a rematch of last year’s 10-11-year-old tournament championship round, today at 5:30 p.m. The winner’s-bracket semifinal between in-town foes Manteca and Northgate will be played simultaneously.

Should Spreckels Park win tonight, it will take on the loser of the Manteca-Northgate contest Saturday for a berth to the title round. Northgate knocked Spreckels Park into the consolation bracket in last Saturday’s opener, 13-11.

Spreckels has since won three straight.

 “Everybody contributed and there was no star, per se. That’s the best way to play — as a team,” Spreckels Park coach Dennis Gallagher said.

Clean-up hitter Dan Alejo (2 for 3, two runs) and Matt Poncini supplied the offensive power for Spreckels, as each hit big home runs that gave the club considerable leads.

Alejo’s three-run shot put Spreckels up 4-0 in the second, and Poncini blasted in two more the following inning.

“It’s great to hit a home run, but these guys take it in stride like it’s just a part of getting business done,” Gallagher said. “When the home run comes it’s just icing on the cake. We have some really humble kids. It’s not just about the home run for them because they love to play.”

Mike Garibay added two doubles to highlight a 2-for-4 effort. Leadoff batter Jacob Wampler legged out his own two-bagger in the fourth, and Tyler Moss was also 2 for 4.

Spreckels used three pitchers that combined for a four-hitter. Jacob Gallagher struck out five in his 2 2/3-inning start, while Ryan Bergman and Moss kept Lathrop hitless for the remainder of the game. Lathrop had opportunities to score in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings but stranded two base runners in each.

“The pitchers just didn’t get down, even when a teammate made a defensive error,” coach Gallagher said. “They focused on the strike zone and did what they had to do. They did really well, and Matt Poncini had an excellent game behind the plate.”

Lathrop’s Carlos Estrada accounted for half of his team’s hits, going 2 for 3. Robert Esparza and Andy Garcia rapped out the other two.