SALIDA — The Weston Ranch Junior Division all-stars claimed the District 67 All-Star Tournament championship Saturday at Salida Elementary with a thrilling 16-12 come-from-behind win over Tracy National.
After scooting out to an early 5-0 lead, Tracy responded with seven in the third and took a 12-7 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
But Christian Vasquez highlighted a seven-run fifth with a bases-clearing single, and Jesse Hurtado capped the frame with a two-run knock with the bases loaded.
Weston Ranch added two insurance runs in the sixth.
“All of our kids battled,” Weston Ranch skipper Mike Keough said. “They battled the whole tournament and all year long.”
Nick Garcia got the win on the hill after tossing four and two-thirds, ringing up eight.
James Simerly’s two-strikeout, close-out effort was just as important.
Leadoff hitter Tyler Scharnow did his job as well, drawing four bases on balls.
“This was Weston Ranch Little League’s first championship of any kind,” Keough said.
The title also serves as the highlight of a highly-successful postseason for a Little League organization that is starting to make a name for itself.
“A lot of good people have committed to the league, board members, parents and players,” Keough said. “The kids are coming in and developing. I’ve been with the league for six years, and things are starting to happen for us.
“This is what we’ve been striving for, and it has happened because everyone has worked so hard.”
Weston Ranch will now head to its first ever Section 2 All-Star Tournament, which will kick off in a week.
After scooting out to an early 5-0 lead, Tracy responded with seven in the third and took a 12-7 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
But Christian Vasquez highlighted a seven-run fifth with a bases-clearing single, and Jesse Hurtado capped the frame with a two-run knock with the bases loaded.
Weston Ranch added two insurance runs in the sixth.
“All of our kids battled,” Weston Ranch skipper Mike Keough said. “They battled the whole tournament and all year long.”
Nick Garcia got the win on the hill after tossing four and two-thirds, ringing up eight.
James Simerly’s two-strikeout, close-out effort was just as important.
Leadoff hitter Tyler Scharnow did his job as well, drawing four bases on balls.
“This was Weston Ranch Little League’s first championship of any kind,” Keough said.
The title also serves as the highlight of a highly-successful postseason for a Little League organization that is starting to make a name for itself.
“A lot of good people have committed to the league, board members, parents and players,” Keough said. “The kids are coming in and developing. I’ve been with the league for six years, and things are starting to happen for us.
“This is what we’ve been striving for, and it has happened because everyone has worked so hard.”
Weston Ranch will now head to its first ever Section 2 All-Star Tournament, which will kick off in a week.
— Brandon Petersen
