Jul 10, 2008

Late heroics spark San Carlos win over Alpine/West Menlo

Outman's HR spoils no-hit bid in sixth

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

If San Carlos shortstop James Outman is to make a career out of playing baseball, he may want to think about changing his last name. "Home Run Man" might be a good suggestion. Outman led off the top of the sixth inning with a pressure-packed solo home run, tying Wednesday's Little League District 52 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars Tournament winners bracket final with Alpine/West Menlo at Marina Field in Belmont. San Carlos, taking advantage of three Alpine errors, went on to score six runs in the top of the seventh for a remarkable 7-1 victory.

San Carlos, which has been in a few heart-stoppers this tourney, advanced to Saturday's title game at 1 p.m. Alpine meets either Hillsborough or Half Moon Bay tonight at 5:30 p.m. The winner of tonight's game must beat San Carlos twice to win the crown.

"Hat's off to San Carlos," Alpine manager Mark Martella said. "They were disciplined at the plate and ran up our starting pitcher's pitch count. They played well."

"Alpine is solid defensively," San Carlos manager Ross Kelly said. "They hit the ball. I like what they brought to the field."

It was a shame anyone had to lose, for both teams played extremely well for six taut innings. San Carlos starter Julian Billot and Alpine's Rylan Pade locked horns in a duel. Billot helped himself defensively by starting a 1-6-3 double play in the second inning.

Billot walked two batters and hit another in 2 2-3 innings before Alpine got its first hit of the night - a double to center field by Jared Lucian. Matt Hennefarth grounded one to Outman, who threw to first baseman Nick Knecht. Lucian beat Knecht's throw across the diamond, but overslid the third base bag and was tagged out by Dante Poleselli.

Alpine broke through for its only run of the game in the fourth inning. With two outs, Evan Easton doubled to right field, then moved to third base on a passed ball. Easton was able to score when Mitch Martella used his speed to beat out and infield hit. Martella got to second on a throwing error, then stole third, but could get no further.

Meanwhile, Pade held San Carlos hitless through five innings, walking two while hitting a batter. Pade, who had neared the maximum pitch count of 75, was facing his last batter in Outman. Ahead in the count 2-0, Outman ripped the next pitch over the right field fence, picking a fine time for his first homer of the season.

"I told Outman just to stay level and hit a line drive," Kelly said.

"The ball was in my happy zone," said Outman, who was mobbed by his teammates after his heroic homer. "When I first hit it, I thought it would hit the wall. I didn't think it would go out."

That was a hard way for Pade, who pitched valiantly for five-plus innings, to lose his no-hitter. Nicky Oliver, who relieved Pade, got the first out before walking the next two batters. With two outs, Hunter Bishop hit a slow roller to second base that Mitch Martella adeptly charged in on to throw out Bishop on a close play.

Alpine went down 1-2-3 in the sixth inning and the game went to overtime. Oliver went back out for the seventh and was greeted by a line drive single to right from Billot, who promptly moved up two bases on two wild pitches. After a walk to Brenden Campbell, Poleselli hit a grounder to third base as Billot sprinted for home. The throw to the plate was too late, the ball getting away, allowing Poleselli to end up at second and Campbell to get to third.

Outman then hit a fly ball to left that was dropped for an error as Outman was credited with his second RBI of the game. At first glance, Outman thought he was out and started to trot back down the first baseline. Oliver retrieved the ball and threw to first, but Outman got back safely. Brandenberg singled in a run, then Knecht beat out an infield hit to score another run. Jonathan Kelly singled in the last run for San Carlos, which could finely breathe easily. Two of the runs in the inning were unearned.

Billot pitched to three batters in the bottom of the seventh before being relieved by Hunter Bishop, who pitched to one batter to end the game. It was Billot's second tournament win - the other a key victory over Hillsborough.

"Both pitchers on each side were outstanding," Ross Kelly said. "Neither pitcher gave in."



- In the nightcap, Hillsborough stayed alive in the losers bracket by defeating Half Moon Bay 13-5 and next plays Alpine for the right play San Carlos in the title game. For Hillsborough, Alex Waldsmith went a strong 4 2/3 innings on the mound while George Delegans went 3-for-4 at the plate. Blake Marcus went 2-for-4 with a double.



- In D-52 11-and-12-year-old All-Stars action, Foster City eliminated San Mateo American 14-6 Wednesday to advance to tonight's title game vs. Hillsborough at Middlefield Ballpark at 5:30 p.m. Foster City must beat Hillsborough twice to win the title, the "if necessary" game on Friday.