Alex Vega set up the Weston Ranch Little League Red Sox with some power.
The rest was left up to his teammates’ aggressive base running in their 5-3 victory over the Manteca A’s in the first round of the major division District 67 Tournament of Champions Sunday on Neil Hafley School’s Gillen Field.
Vega accounted for two of the Sox’s three hits, including a double and a two-run shot to center in the third inning that gave Weston Ranch an early 2-1 lead. He also recorded the win by striking out two in an inning of work from the mound.
Derek Gordon relieved Vega in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff walk and got out of a one-out, bases loaded jam with consecutive strikeouts.
With the rest of its otherwise deadly lineup slumping, Weston Ranch had to rely on its legs to get over the hump, scoring the tying, go-ahead and insurance runs (one in the fourth, two in the sixth) without the aid of base hits.
“We’re a much better hitting team than what we displayed,” Weston Ranch manager Steve Mallette said. “We beat everybody in our league by 10 runs, but today we couldn’t get the bat on the ball. So we had to come up with other ways to get it done.”
Richard Halh and Steve Gaspar drew back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the sixth inning. Halh and Gaspar advanced on a double steal, and the former scored on the errant pickoff throw to third. Gaspar later caught the defense napping, plating the final run after a strikeout.
“We made a couple of mental errors,” Manteca skipper Aaron Peterson said. “You know that all the teams come to play at this point, and if you don’t play your game there’s a good chance you’re going to lose.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better outing from the pitchers. They did exactly what we asked of them.”
The A’s pitchers did their part in keeping the team in it, as Chuck Good, Brandon Lanowehr and RyanVasquez totaled 13 strikeouts in the combined three-hitter.
“We hit better against fast pitchers, and they have some good, fast pitchers. They’re excellent.”
Weston Ranch starter Vince Arniendaris was excellent in his four-inning start, striking out 10. His only rough spot was the bottom of the third, when Vasquez’s leadoff double was followed by back-to-back RBI knocks by Good and Steven Crescini.
The Red Sox next face Patterson today at 6 p.m. back at Gillen Field, while Manteca squares off with Lathrop Tuesday in the consolation bracket.
Northgate 10, Salida 2
The top half of Northgate’s lineup struck early and often to cruise into the quarterfinals.
Jake Pruitt powered the Yankees with a home run, a double and five RBIs in a 2-for-4 effort. Jacob Alvarado sparked the Yankees’ three-run first with a triple, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs. Chris Ah Yo was also 2 for 3 with three runs. Nick Lucchetti was 2 for 4 with a double and three runs.
Salida’s Athletics scored its only runs in the fifth inning. Northgate awaits the winner of today’s Weston Ranch-Patterson game.
Tracy American 7, Lathrop 0
The Lathrop Giants managed to scatter six hits, but Tracy American pitcher Cameron Hoff was too tough to overcome in his five-inning gem. The Mariner ace fired eight strikeouts and was spotted a six-run lead going into the third.
Jake Campbell legged out a double for the Giants.
Spreckels Park def. Mountain House
The Indians of Spreckels Park got a free pass to the second round, as Mountain House forfeited by not showing up.
Spreckels takes on Tracy National today at 6 p.m.
The rest was left up to his teammates’ aggressive base running in their 5-3 victory over the Manteca A’s in the first round of the major division District 67 Tournament of Champions Sunday on Neil Hafley School’s Gillen Field.
Vega accounted for two of the Sox’s three hits, including a double and a two-run shot to center in the third inning that gave Weston Ranch an early 2-1 lead. He also recorded the win by striking out two in an inning of work from the mound.
Derek Gordon relieved Vega in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff walk and got out of a one-out, bases loaded jam with consecutive strikeouts.
With the rest of its otherwise deadly lineup slumping, Weston Ranch had to rely on its legs to get over the hump, scoring the tying, go-ahead and insurance runs (one in the fourth, two in the sixth) without the aid of base hits.
“We’re a much better hitting team than what we displayed,” Weston Ranch manager Steve Mallette said. “We beat everybody in our league by 10 runs, but today we couldn’t get the bat on the ball. So we had to come up with other ways to get it done.”
Richard Halh and Steve Gaspar drew back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the sixth inning. Halh and Gaspar advanced on a double steal, and the former scored on the errant pickoff throw to third. Gaspar later caught the defense napping, plating the final run after a strikeout.
“We made a couple of mental errors,” Manteca skipper Aaron Peterson said. “You know that all the teams come to play at this point, and if you don’t play your game there’s a good chance you’re going to lose.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better outing from the pitchers. They did exactly what we asked of them.”
The A’s pitchers did their part in keeping the team in it, as Chuck Good, Brandon Lanowehr and RyanVasquez totaled 13 strikeouts in the combined three-hitter.
“We hit better against fast pitchers, and they have some good, fast pitchers. They’re excellent.”
Weston Ranch starter Vince Arniendaris was excellent in his four-inning start, striking out 10. His only rough spot was the bottom of the third, when Vasquez’s leadoff double was followed by back-to-back RBI knocks by Good and Steven Crescini.
The Red Sox next face Patterson today at 6 p.m. back at Gillen Field, while Manteca squares off with Lathrop Tuesday in the consolation bracket.
Northgate 10, Salida 2
The top half of Northgate’s lineup struck early and often to cruise into the quarterfinals.
Jake Pruitt powered the Yankees with a home run, a double and five RBIs in a 2-for-4 effort. Jacob Alvarado sparked the Yankees’ three-run first with a triple, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs. Chris Ah Yo was also 2 for 3 with three runs. Nick Lucchetti was 2 for 4 with a double and three runs.
Salida’s Athletics scored its only runs in the fifth inning. Northgate awaits the winner of today’s Weston Ranch-Patterson game.
Tracy American 7, Lathrop 0
The Lathrop Giants managed to scatter six hits, but Tracy American pitcher Cameron Hoff was too tough to overcome in his five-inning gem. The Mariner ace fired eight strikeouts and was spotted a six-run lead going into the third.
Jake Campbell legged out a double for the Giants.
Spreckels Park def. Mountain House
The Indians of Spreckels Park got a free pass to the second round, as Mountain House forfeited by not showing up.
Spreckels takes on Tracy National today at 6 p.m.
