Giants

Alameda, District 4 Champs!

The boys needed to beat Walnut Creek again last night to win the district championship, and they did it in dramatic fashion!

It did not look great at the beginning of the game. With Jackson Rodriguez pitching for Alameda, WC's leadoff batter, Luke Saunders, reached second on an error and later scored on a double by first baseman, Caden Royere, hitting in the three spot. Royere was then driven in by second baseman Robby Uesugi. In the second inning, Saunders hit a two-run homer.  In the third, WC took advantage of two hits and an error to score two more.  By the middle of the third inning, WC led by a score of 6 - 0.

But then the tide began to turn for Alameda.  With Ari Chertock on first base, Tristan Good rapped a single into center field, advancing Chertock to second. Joe Gibbons lined a shot into and out of the left fielder's glove, reaching third base and driving in two runs.  Gibbons then scored on a single up the middle by Dallas Rider.  WC 6, Alameda 3 after three innings.

WC scored one more run in the top of the fourth and held Alameda scoreless in the bottom of the inning.  Joe Depinna came in to pitch for Alameda and returned the favor, getting three up and three down in the top of the fifth.

Thunder struck in the bottom of the fifth for Alameda.  Lead-off man Chertock blasted an opposite field homer off WC’s closer…that's three big flies in two days for Ari!  Good reached on an error and later advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Cleanup man Gibbons was at the plate again.  With the count full, he got a hold of one and launched it WELL over the center field fence for a two-run bomb!  At the end of five innings, WC 7, Alameda 6.

Joe D struck out the side to power through the top of the sixth inning with no score.  Do or die for Alameda in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out, Joe Boyden walked on four pitches and narrowly advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Speedster Jeriah Lewis reached on a dropped third strike, with Boyden taking third.  After Lewis took second uncontested, Chertock was walked intentionally to load the bases.  With Good at the plate, WC's Saunders threw a wild pitch and Boyden raced home to tie the game at 7.  After a long at-bat, Good eventually went down swinging, bringing Depinna to the plate with two outs.  After looking at a ball and a strike, Depinna cracked one just inside first base to score Lewis and win the title! Alameda 8, WC 7.

The 12's move on to the Section 1 tournament held in Larkspur. They will face the District 35 champion, Petaluma-Valley, at 3:30, Friday, July 11.  This is also a double-elimination tournament. 

All games are scheduled to be played at Twin Cities LL Joe Wagner Field at 20 Alexander Ave (at the corner of Magnolia), Larkspur, CA 94939 

Click here for the Section 1 tournament schedule.

Congratulations 12's!!!