Several Gilroy teams still alive in Little League District 39
All-Star tournaments
Staff Reports
District 39 8-9 All-Stars
American
The 8-9 American All-Stars headed into the third game of the District 39 tournament undefeated at 2-0.
In its first game July 6, the team pounded out 20 runs in a 23-5 win over Capitola-Soquel. The game was called after the fifth inning due to the mercy rule. Two days later, the American All-Stars took down Hollister 9-3.
The team plays again tonight at 5:30 at Field 2 at Live Oak Park in Santa Cruz.
Leading the hitting barrage were Jaeshawn Hoenck (4-for-4, 4 RBI), Joe Vanni (3-for-4, double, RBI), Jonathon Holliday (3-for-5, 4 RBI), Zachary Loo (2-for-3, double, 3 RBI), Justin Hale (2-for-2, 2 RBI) and Dillon Day (1-for-1, 4 walks, 2 RBI).
On the defensive end, the team allowed just five runs.
Starting pitcher Brendan Reimer had three strong innings, striking out four batters and only allowing one walk. Hale came in in relief and had a good showing with three strikeouts and one walk. Both boys were pitching from a real “mound” for the first time and came on very powerful.
“Our team was firing on all cylinders: Batting, defense, pitching and baserunning were all near perfect,” said American manager Vic Vanni. “It was a great confidence booster to get a big win on the first game of the tournament. We plan to ride that confidence cautiously to the end.”
Against Hollister, the American All-Stars displayed solid defense. Led by middle infielders Loo at shortstop and Holliday at second base, the team made numerous defensive plays highlighted by an outstanding double play. Reimer made a great running catch of a high-hit fly ball in left center and catcher Joe Vanni made some tough plays at the plate.
Hitting-wise, Loo hit a triple to right center and was driven in by Joe Vanni’s RBI single. Reimer hit a double to right center scoring a run. Other players with RBI’s included Marc Anthony Torres and Hoenck.
Nathan Bonsell was the starting pitcher and threw three strong innings, allowing only four hits.
National
The 8-9 National All-Stars opened their District 39 campaign with a 9-2 win over Santa Cruz at Live Oak Park on July 7. The team advanced on to play San Lorenzo Valley Friday night, but lost that contest 11-7 despite taking an early 5-0 lead. The team plays its next game tonight at 5:30pm on Field 1 at Live Oak Park in Santa Cruz.
In the 9-2 win, pitchers Richard Rios, Josh Wheat and Mathew Alexandre combined to pull out the win. On defense, the National All-Stars received two nice outfield catches by Nick Triolo and Andrew Wood.
Against San Lorenzo Valley, Gilroy took a 5-0 lead by the third inning. San Lorenzo Valley tied the score and took a one-run lead in the fourth. The National team tied the game in the bottom of that inning when Wood laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought home Jake Moen from third. Gilroy took a one-run lead in the fifth before San Lorenzo Valley scored six runs in the final inning to win the game.
“The pitching started falling off and we walked a few guys,” said National manager John Triolo.
Moen belted two triples and drove home two runs in the loss.
Minors All-Stars
National
The Gilroy Minors National All-Stars lost their first round game on July 5 to Scotts Valley but rebounded with a 16-11 win over Live Oak Monday at Santa Cruz’s Harvey West Park.
The team plays again today at 5pm.
In the win over Live Oak, the National team was led by the bats of Brandon Holler (3-for-4, 3 runs scored, 4 RBI, 2 singles, double), Isaiah Campos (3-for-4, 2 singles, double, 3 RBI), Bailey Schipper (double, single, 3 runs scored, RBI), Gabe Hernandez (3-for-4, 3 singles) and Raynaldo Lara III (2-for-3, double, single, 2 runs scored, RBI).
On the mound, starting pitcher Brian Ranson allowed just one run in two innings. Schipper came in later to strike out four batters before Holler closed out the game.
