The Palo Alto Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-stars survived to play another day in the NorCal State Tournament following an 11-1 victory over Northern Solano on Sunday at the Belmont Sports Complex.
The victory moved Palo Alto into a consolation game Monday (5 p.m.) against East Sacramento, which suffered a 9-2 loss to Ukiah in the second round of the winners’ bracket. Mountain View, which finished third in the District 6 tourney behind Bel-Mateo and runner-up Palo Alto, remained unbeaten with a 4-1 win over Tri-Valley.
“We came out ready to battle,” said Palo Alto manager Bob Budelli. “Ben Simon pitched six innings of three-hit ball.”
Palo Alto exploded in the bottom of the sixth, finishing with Andrew Tam’s bases-loaded triple that gave his team the 10-run, mercy-rule victory. Tam also had a clutch two-out, two-run single in the fourth to put Palo Alto ahead, 2-0.
Simon also contributed at the plate with a triple and a double. Nico Rolandi, Angus Stayte and Troy Siegler all had two hits each.
Budelli also singled out Siegler for his excellent defense at shortstop and catcher Ryan Chang for throwing out two baserunners.
Palo Alto, meanwhile, needs to win on Monday in the double-elimination tournament to reach the consolation semifinals on Tuesday, also at 5 p.m. The Bel-Mateo vs. Tri-Valley winner also will play in that game.
Palo Alto opened the NorCal State Tournament with a 12-5 loss to visiting Tri Valley at the Belmont Sports Complex on Saturday.
Tri Valley took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Dante Albanese roped a single to left-center field, bringing home Nicholas Venezia from third base, making it a 6-5 game. Tri Valley went on to produce six more runs in the same inning.
Tri Valley’s Gabe Giosso drove in Jack Maloon from second base on a single to left-center field, giving his team the 1-0 early lead in the second inning.
Palo Alto answered right back in the third inning with four runs. Charlie Racz led off the rally with a line-drive double to left-center field, scoring Stayte. Palo Alto’s offense stepped up for four hits including two doubles in the inning.
Tri Valley made a comeback of its own in the fourth inning when Albanese knocked in Drew McCarthy and Giosso to make it a 4-4 ball game.
Giosso put the game out of reach for Palo Alto when he lined a base hit up the middle, scoring Albanese from second base, making it a 11-5 Tri-Valley lead in the sixth.
“We’ve got some things to fix,” said starting pitcher Ryan Chang. “It wasn’t like a total breakdown. We were in it for most of the game and that’s important.”
Clark Eder slapped a triple to deep right-center field and scored after a sacrifice fly from Jared Bannister, making it a 12-5 Tri-Valley lead in the seventh.