Jul 6, 2008

Half Moon Bay blasts way to win

By Greg Lydon / Daily News Correspondent

Banging out 19 hits over five innings, the Half Moon Bay 13-and-14-year-old All-Stars won in convincing fashion Saturday, defeating Redwood City American 16-6 in five innings in the opening round of the District 52 tournament at Half Moon Bay High School.

Half Moon Bay will go for the Redwood City sweep today when they face Redwood City National in the winners-bracket final at 1:30 p.m.

"I'd rather win that way, swinging the bats well, than barely squeaking one out," Half Moon Bay coach George Young said. "We have a bunch of good hitters on this team."

Half Moon Bay made some major noise in inning No. 1. Jason Garcia tripled to the corner in right field to lead off. Josue Lopez drove in Garcia and Half Moon Bay pushed across eight runs in the inning.

Felipe Nah and Ben Duarte followed with RBIs to make the score 3-0, then a ground ball slipped through the legs of the second baseman to bring in two more runners in a disastrous opening inning for Redwood City American.

"These kids all get nervous out there," Redwood City coach Juan Funes Sr. said. "Our team settled down after that inning and played much better baseball after that."

Half Moon Bay extended its lead to 10-0 with two runs in the second inning, but there was no quit in Redwood City despite a daunting deficit. Redwood City pushed across their first run n the third inning. Ramon Contreras slid safely on a passed ball to put Redwood City on the board.

Contreras, the Redwood City No. 2 hitter, and leadoff hitter Mariah Gutierrez combined for seven appearances on base. Gutierrez walked three times and beat out an infield single.

"Errors cost us early today," Funes said. "These guys aren't afraid anymore. The top of our lineup played great today."

Half Moon Bay exploded for five more runs in the fourth inning to take a 15-1 lead. Nah drilled an RBI single down the line in left to score two of the runs.

Contreras pitched in relief of the Redwood City starting pitcher in the fourth inning, striking out two batters and inducing a weak pop-out.

Redwood City needed five runs in the top of the fifth to keep the game alive and avoid the mercy rule, and they got them in a rally highlighted by a dramatic at-bat from No. 9 hitter Joseph Beck. With the score 15-4, Redwood City was down to its final out with Beck coming to the plate. The last man in the order worked his way to a 3-2 count, then unloaded an RBI double to deep left field sailing over the left fielder's head to bring across two teammates and keep Redwood City alive a little longer.

Half Moon Bay handled its business in their half of the fifth inning, quickly loading the bases before a passed ball let Juan Ayon slide just ahead of the throw to give Half Moon Bay run No. 16 and the 10-run victory.

"We got a little sleepy the last two innings out there," Young said. "That was not the same RCA team we saw last year. The big game is tomorrow. I used a lot of arms today to keep guys fresh for the rest of the tournament."