Jul 6, 2008

Foster City survives late SM American rally

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

Foster City's Jason Lock struck out the side in the first inning of Saturday's Little League District 52 11-and-12-year-old All-Stars game with San Mateo American at Middlefield Ballpark in Palo Alto. When Lock got to the Foster City dugout, he jumped up and down with joy.

Foster City, despite a desperate seventh-inning rally by SM American, felt the joy of staying unbeaten in the tournament with a 7-4 victory. Foster City meets Hillsborough on Tuesday at Middlefield Ballpark at 5:30 p.m. with the victor holding the hammer in Thursday's title game. SM American plays in an elimination game on Monday, the opponent yet to be determined.

"I told my team that Foster City won the first half of the game and we won the second half of the game," SM American manager Don Hahn said. "We have been able to play catch on defense all tournament, but we didn't do it against Foster City."

The first four runs for Foster City were all unearned as SM American committed all four of its errors in the first two innings. Foster City's Stephan Ostrowski doubled to center field to begin the game. A one-out error allowed Ostrowski, who had moved to third on a wild pitch, to score. Brendan Toy's fielder's-choice grounder scored Christian Santos.

In a wild sequence in the second inning, Freddie Whitman beat out a bunt with pinch-runner Stephen Hasegawa on at first base. Hasegawa headed to third on a fielding error on the play. A throw went down to third to try to get Hasegawa, but the ball went into left field allowing Hasegawa to score. The throw from the outfield went awry, which allowed the speedy Whitman to come home.

Foster City made it 6-0 in the third. Lock destroyed a pitch, driving the ball deep into left-center for a home run. Then SM American pulled of an unorthodox double play to get the first two outs in the inning. With Toy on at second base, Andrew Kelly's grounder was fielded nicely by SM American pitcher Michael Valdes, who quickly got Toy in a rundown between second and third. Valdes covered third base, eventually tagging out Toy as Kelly sped to second. Valdes threw to second baseman Rory Beyer, who nipped a sliding Kelly.

Botta then doubled over the left fielder's head before scoring on a double to center by Hasegawa.

Lock pitched the first three innings and was effective, fanning six. Santos took over in the fourth and was either spot-on or wild. Santos, who pitched 2 2/3 innings, struck out seven hitters but walked six batters.

"Lock pitched really well, but he was tired. That's why I took him out," Foster City manager Rick Kelly said.

Ostrowski hit the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning as Foster City took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Ostrowski hit three home runs in the opening game against Redwood City American.

SM American, with its boisterous fans behind it, put a scare into Foster City with a late rally. Two walks and a single to right field by Andrew Perkins stoked the comeback fire. Mark Miller singled down the right-field line for two runs. Beyer walked with the bases loaded to close the gap to three runs. However, Connor Hulbert struck out the final batter to record a save.

"I was proud of how we came back," Hahn said.





E-mail John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.



Foster City 222 001 - 7 9 1

SM American 000 004 - 4 6 4

Lock, Santos (4), Hulbert (6) and Santos, Carreon (4); Valdes, Miller (4) and Hahn. WP-Lock. LP-Valdes. Save-Hulbert. 2B - Ostrowski, Lock, Botta, Hasegawa (FC). HR - Ostrowski, Lock (FC). 3 hits - Ostrowski (FC). 2 hits - Lock (FC). 2 RBI - Miller (SMA).