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Northgate Cubs comeback falls short in major quarterfinal
BB--TOC--NGLL-Patterson majors pic 2
Alex Sonke of the Northgate Little League Cubs safe at second as Patterson infielder Javier Huizar jumps for the ball. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL/The Bulletin

Sometimes, the ball just bounces the wrong way.

Josh Grabowski came in to pitch Wednesday for the Northgate Little League Cubs in the bottom of the fourth inning with the score tied, the bases loaded and two outs for the Patterson Indians.

Grabowski worked the count to two strikes when Joseph Garza dribbled a grounder up the middle, past the pitcher and over second base into center field for the first two of four Patterson runs in the inning.

The Indians went on to a 12-10 quarterfinal win in the District 67 Major Tournament of Champions at Lincoln Park.

The Cubs entered the sixth inning needing six runs to tie and they got four. Logan Harries (2 for 3, two doubles, three runs) and Grabowski (3 for 4, double, triple, two RBI) each doubled in the frame and Cameron Pickering and Anthony Flores (2 for 4, RBI) each knocked in a run.

Northgate scored three runs in the fourth inning behind an RBI double by Nolan Calmes and an RBI single by Jacob Toste. Dylan Stokes added an RBI on a fielder’s choice.

Grabowski had a part in the other three Cubs runs — he tripled in Toste in the first inning and came all the way around on a throwing error. Harries doubled in the second inning and came in to score on a single by Grabowski.

The loss bounces Northgate to the consolation bracket where it will face Spreckels Park today at 4:30 p.m.