Announcement
Majors
Cardinals 7, Pirates 2: May 18, 2014
Trailing by a run with two outs left in their season, the Cardinals, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Kyle Christy, rallied for six runs in the sixth to advance in the Majors Division tournament.
Pirates lefty Shane Hoodman and Cardinals right-hander Joey Legg were locked in a pitching duel into the fifth inning. The Cardinals forged ahead 1-0 on an Angel Zamora infield single in the second inning, and the Pirates fought back to take a 2-1 lead in the fifth on a Nick Madole RBI double and Zach Pratte’s go-ahead RBI single.
After Hoodman retired the first batter in the sixth, the Cardinals’ Nick Shenkman and Jimmy Campbell reached base and the Pirates changed pitchers due to the left-hander's rising pitching count. Shenkman scored on a wild pitch to tie it and Christy doubled down the right-field line to put the Cardinals ahead for good. Sean Yackley drilled an RBI single and Zamora added an insurance run with an RBI groundout.
Christy, Yackley, Shenkman and David Drigla each had two hits for the No. 4 seed Cardinals (10-8). Paul Wagner pitched the final two innings in relief of Legg to get the victory. Legg allowed two runs on two hits in four-plus innings.
Hoodman finished with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Yankees 6, Cardinals 2: May 17, 2014
The Yankees rode a four-run third inning to break a 2-2 tie in a first round game of the OVLL Majors Division tournament. Pitchers Sinjin Choi, Mauro Ballinas and Luca Pantel combined for nine strikeouts as the fifth-seeded Yankees held the Cards scoreless after the first inning.
The Cardinals grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning with Jimmy Campbell driving in the second run on a rare bunt double. Ballinas and Naeco Logan pulled the Yankees even with RBI hits in the bottom of the first.
Ballinas (2-for-3, two runs), Pantel and William Brooks provided key singles during the Yankees’ third-inning outburst.
Jack Miller chipped in with a double, a walk and a run for the Yankees.
Minor A
Hot Rods 8, Iron Pigs 3: May 29, 2014
After falling behind early, the Hot Rods kicked it into gear to score eight unanswered runs to win 8-3 to setup a showdown with the Iron Pigs for the Ocean View Little League Minor A title.
The Bulls struck for three runs in the top of the first on hits by Riley Reece, Adam Baggetta, Shane Featherston and Tommy Kelly. Baggetta and Featherston scored along with Micah Kennedy, who walked in the inning.
The Hot Rods rallied for five runs in the third inning. The inning featured a bases-clearing double by Ramon Lopez. In the inning, Van Harmon singled and Wyatt Smith, AJ Hurtado and Quentin Custodio each drew a walk.
After the Bulls' three-run first inning, Gavin Kells and Custodio held the Bulls scoreless the rest of the way. Kells struck out seven, and Custodio gave up no runs on only two hits in his three-inning stint.
The Hot Rods knocked out 10 hits in the game. Besides Harmon's and Lopez's hits, Hurtado and Carson Jones both had two hits; and Kells, Custodio, Carson Webb, and Aiden Hall each had a hit.
Reece and Samuel Cohn led the Bulls with two hits each. Baggetta, Featherston, Kelly and Jackson Harris each had a hit.
Hot Rods 4, Muckdogs 0: May 23, 2014
AJ Hurtado was overpowering again on the mound as the Hot Rods blanked the Muckdogs, 4-0, Friday, May 23, to keep the Hot Rods' Minor A Tournament hopes alive and to eliminate the Muckdogs.
The Hot Rods square off Wednesday against the Express, and the winner will play the Bulls Thursday for a chance to play the Iron Pigs for the Tournament championship.
Hurtado struck out 14 and held the Muckdogs scoreless in five and two-thirds innings. The Muckdogs were only able to scratch out three hits against Hurtado. In the first game of the Tournament, Hurtado also turned in a dominant performance in the Hot Rods win over the Bats.
The Muckdogs' Jaxon Potter also pitched effectively, holding the Hot Rods in check most of the game. He surrendered only four hits in four and two-thirds innings and kept the game close until the Hot Rods rallied for two runs in the fifth inning to separate themselves from the Muckdogs.
Gavin Kells led the Hot Rods with two hits. Quentin Custodio, Carson Jones and Jack Pirooz each added one hit. Hurtado scored twice, and Jones and Aiden Hall both scored once for the Hot Rods.
Zak Vuncanon, Chad Lux and Thomas Woodbury each singled for the Muckdogs only hits.
Hot Rods 4, Bats 3: May 17, 2014
AJ Hurtado starred on the mound and the plate to lead the Hot Rods to a 4-3 win over the Bats Saturday, May 17 in the first round of the Minor A playoffs.
After striking out the side in the top half of the first, Hurtado ripped a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. Hurtado scored again in the top of the sixth to give the Hot Rods what appeared to be a comfortable 4-0 lead. The Bats though rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth and had the potential winning run on base before the Hot Rods recorded the final out of the inning and the game.
The Bats' bats were kept in check for most of the game as Hurtado pitched four and a third scoreless innings, fanning 11.
The Hot Rods only mustered three hits, but all of them were extra base hits. In addition to Hurtado's homer (which was his eighth on the year), Carson Jones tripled and Jack Pirooz doubled. Jason Flory led the Bats with two hits and Jack Sles, Ethan Choi and Kai Mullens each had a hit for the Bats.
