Jul 17, 2008

Kodiak 'kid' delivers for Alpine/W. Menlo

From Daily News Dispatches

A standout two-way performance by Kodiak Conrad helped the Alpine/West Menlo 9-and-10-year-old Little League All-Stars open the Section 3 tournament with a bang. Conrad needed just 71 pitches to record a complete game and he powered his team's offense in a 10-2 victory over Pleasanton American in Tracy on Wednesday afternoon.

Alpine/West Menlo advances to a second-round contest with host Tracy today at 2:30 p.m.

"It was a fabulous start," Alpine/West Menlo coach Mark Martella said. "The great pitching performance right out of the chute is huge because we're in the winners bracket."

Conrad kept Pleasanton off balance throughout, scattering nine hits while striking out two and walking one. The crafty left-hander gave himself a boost with a potent bat, registering a double and a triple in a 3-for-4, four-RBI afternoon.

Alpine/West Menlo broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning, stringing together six hits including a two-run triple by Conrad.

Catcher Jared Lucian went 2-for-4 with a double, narrowly missing a home run off the top of the fence. He added an RBI single as Alpine/West Menlo totaled 10 hits.

Shortstop Rylan Pade, who takes the mound in today's game, had a pair of hits.



Hillsborough loses

The Hillsborough All-Stars, District 52 champions in the 11-and-12-year-old division, carried high hopes into their Section 3 tournament opener Wednesday in Tracy but ran into one of the best pitchers in the section and lost 6-2 to Pleasanton American.

Hillsborough scored twice in the top of the first inning, but Pleasanton answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame. The remainder of the game was a pitchers duel.

Hillsborough plays an elimination game today at 5:30 p.m. at Jefferson School in Tracy.