The Huntington Learning Center’s Red Sox have lived up to
expectations so far in the Gilroy Little League Boys Majors
division playoffs.
GILROY – The Huntington Learning Center’s Red Sox have lived up to expectations so far in the Gilroy Little League Boys Majors division playoffs.
Entering the tournament with the No. 1 seed after going 13-3-1 in the regular season, the Red Sox have advanced one more win short of the championship game after beating the Brewers 3-2 in an opening round contest and mercy ruling the Yankees 11-1 in a game played Friday.
The Yankee’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but that was all they would score the rest of the night. Red Sox pitcher Brian Easton went 4.1 innings while striking out seven and allowing just one unearned run on two hits. Joe Vanni closed out the game striking out the two batters he faced.
The Rex Sox bats were hot all game, pounding out 11 hits, four of which went for extra bases. Adrian Rivera led the way going 3-for-3, including a triple and a double for two RBI. Vanni was 3-for-3, Brendan Reimer went 2-for-3 and Easton had an RBI double.
Other standout batters included: Ethan Cline (1-2, RBI), AJ Manino (two sac bunts, RBI) and Chris Spore (1-2, RBI).
Richie Rios, Joel Gonzales and Nick Zertuchi all pitched for the Yankees.
Three days earlier, the Red Sox barely got by the Brewers.
Jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, the Brewers looked to be in control. The Red Sox responded by tying the game in the fourth.
It was looking like extra innings were on the way before Kyle Greenhalgh laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth to score Sphor, who had singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
The Red Sox pitching only allowed two hits on the night. Adrian Rivera started the game and struck out four while allowing one hit in 1.2 innings of work. Ethan Cline followed by striking out one batter and giving up one hit and two runs. The game was closed out by Brendan Reimer going a perfect 3.1 innings, getting all 10 batters he faced out in order while striking out seven.
Led at the plate by Easton, Reimer, Vanni, Sphor and Phillip Castro, who all went 1-for-2, the Red Sox had five hits in the game. The Brewers pitching kept things tight the whole way, as Jonathon Large pitched a great game going over five innings.
The Red Sox face the Giants today at 7 p.m. to gain a spot in the championship.
