Tracy Press

 
Determination pays off for Tracy American

Tracy American’s Kyle Murawski scores ahead of the throw to Tracy National catcher Victor Escoto during their tournament game in Manteca on Thursday. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

A determined Tracy National All-Star team faced an even more determined Tracy American team Thursday at Hafley School in Manteca in a contest to see who would have a spot in Monday’s Little League District 67 Major All-Star semifinal.

Tracy American had the heads-up fielding needed to end the game 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, when Tracy National loaded the bases and threatened to score.

With one out, Tracy American turned an infield grounder into a force-out at home plate. Catcher Joe Saenz immediately threw the ball to first to go for the double play, but the throw was not in time. First baseman Trevor Trew, however, fired the ball back to Saenz as the next Tracy National runner tried to score. Saenz made the tag for the final out.

“Tracy against Tracy is always tough,” Tracy American manager Bob Furtado said, adding that he expected district All-Star games would come down to plays like the one that ended Thursday’s game.

“We practice that with our infield all the time,” he said. “After 2½ weeks, it all paid off.”

The team also got key defensive plays from center fielder Jordan Kirby, who twice ran to the fence and robbed Tracy National batters of home runs. Tracy American starting pitcher Jeremy Thompson said he expected the Tracy National batters would hit the ball well.

“I knew they would hit it if I pitched it inside, so I had my catcher frame it outside so I could strike them out,” he said.

Tracy American took a 4-0 lead in the first two innings with base hits from Anthony Talaugon, Kyle Pajarilla, Trevor Trew and Saenz.

After that, Tracy National put Jeremy Vaughn on the mound, and for 4 1/3 innings he shut down the Tracy American bats, striking out six and allowing only two base hits. Those came in the fifth inning, when Tracy National fielders turned a double play and got another out on a force at second.

Tracy National had its opportunities to score with seven base hits, compared to Tracy American’s five. Dylan Davis got a hit in the third inning and came home on Albert Landeros’ shot to deep right-center field. In the fourth inning, Vaughn hit one to deep right field for a triple and came home when Shay Lafever hit a double to right-center.

Tim Warta and Davis both got hits in the sixth inning, but Tracy American’s plays at the plate kept the National team from scoring.

Tracy American will play the winner of the Spreckels vs. Manteca game, which began Thursday and was postponed because of darkness, with the score 7-7 after seven innings. That game was planned for Friday afternoon, and results were not available as of press time.

Tracy American’s semifinal game will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Hafley School in Manteca.

Tracy National plays Northgate at 11 a.m. Saturday at Neil Hafley School.

Tracy Junior National 17, Weston Ranch 3
The Tracy Junior National All-Stars bounced back Thursday night with a win over the Weston Ranch All-Stars in the District 67 Junior All-Star tournament at Sierra High School in Manteca.

Tracy National was behind 3-2 going into the third inning, but with two outs and the bases loaded, Kenney Bergmann hit a two-run single to take back the lead.

“Bergmann’s at-bat was the key moment in the game,” coach Mike Loscavio said. “Hitting is contagious, and (he) got us started.”

Tracy National went on to score nine runs in the fourth, taking advantage of walks and base hits by Matt Loscavio, Jonah Wesely, Ryan Black and Devon Denholm.

Tracy National pitcher Wesely gave up three runs and struck out six over four innings, and Reilly Oki closed out the game in the fifth with just 17 pitches.

Tracy National plays Salida at 2:30 p.m. today, right after Tracy American plays Spreckels Park in the winners’ bracket semifinal, which starts at noon. The winner of the Tracy National vs. Salida game will face the loser of the Tracy American vs. Spreckels game at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

The championship game will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Tracy hosts 9-10 tournament
Tracy Little League will host the 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars at Jefferson and Monticello schools starting today, with the championship game July 13.

There are two Tracy American and two Tracy National teams competing.

The Tracy National 1 team includes: Ralph Archbold, Nick Burnham, Myles Cunningham, Jared Finney, James Gibbons, Antonio Gigliotti, Brian Kronenberg, Tomas Landeros, Alex Martinez, Taylor Mellick, Kyle Pendleton, Christian Schwartz, Peter VanKatwyk, manager Jeff Schwartz, coaches Chuck Mellick and Frank Gigliotti.

The Tracy National 2 team includes: Joshua Avelar, Cameron Bacchetti, Isidro Cota, Jake Fordyce, Nathan George, Daryn Higaki, Bryce Keeney, Michael Mendiola, Tyler McLaughlin, Austin Pemberton, Kevin Saenz, Ricky Staas, Ronaldo Tijero, manager Paulette Keeney, coaches Brian Keeney and Rocky Pemberton.

The Tracy American 1 team includes: Brandon Russell, Robbie Ramirez, Noah Denoyer, Thomes Greely, Nick Medina, Justin Mills, Dylan Von Hartman, Frank Isola, Andrew Huerta, Chris Ramon, Matt Case, Jacob Rebar, Troy Dennet, manager Bruce Russell, coaches Jorge Medina and Frank Ramirez.

The Tracy American 2 team includes: Noe Arrambide, Cody Bolton, Cameron Bridges, Harrison Difuntorum, Greg Guillen, Kyle Hanson, Cameron Hoff, Todd Hoffman, Conner Johnson, Skyler Oki, Tyler Schlotter, Matt Sullivan, Nick Yanke, manager Mike Schlotter, Coaches Beau Hoff, Noe Arrambide, Leonard Guillen.

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