Jul 15, 2008

Alpine/West Menlo wins title in dramatic fashion

By Vytas Mazeika / Daily News Staff Writer

After four innings, the Alpine/West Menlo 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars had yet to score a run in the District 52 championship game. That just made their comeback - and Little League title run - all the more dramatic.

"They were very confident," Alpine coach Mark Martella said of his squad. "They know they can score. They're not giving up. They're fighting till the end."

After a two-out, two-run single from Matt Hennefarth tied Sunday's championship game at Marina Field in Belmont, a one-out rally in the bottom of the sixth culminated with a walk-off single from Andrew Cox to secure a 3-2 win over San Carlos.

The winning run was scored by Nick Stoner, who hit a one-double to left field and moved to third on a single from Mitch Martella. A stolen base negated the force out at second, and Cox drilled a ball to right center to make Alpine the champs.

"It would've been a double in regular baseball," Martella said. "It was a well-hit ball."

Alpine needed to top San Carlos twice in a row for the title, and the first win came Saturday via the mercy rule. Alpine sent 17 batters to the plate in the first inning and was up 12-3 after the opening frame, eventually winning 15-5 in four innings.

The second victory was much tougher, as San Carlos sent ace Julian Billot to the mound - the same pitcher that handed Alpine its only loss of the tournament earlier in the week.

"The San Carlos pitcher was terrific," Martella said. "It wasn't until he reached his pitch count that we broke through.

"They were a formidable opponent," Martella added. "They had a great run."

San Carlos scored runs in each the first and second inning, but Alpine starter Kodiak Conrad - the team's ace - settled down and pitched into the fourth. Out of the bullpen for his third tournament appearance came Justin Harmon, and he went two-plus innings to pick up the victory.

"He just threw strikes, came in and did a great job for us," Martella said.

Next up for Alpine is the Sectional Tournament which starts Wednesday in Tracy.

"I expect them to play a solid defensive game, which is what we have," Martella said. "And if we get our hits and throw strikes we'll be fine."



M-A made strong run

The Menlo-Atherton 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars were eliminated after a four-game run in the District 52 tournament.

After losing its first game 8-6 to eventual runner-up San Carlos, M-A came back to beat Palo Alto and Pacifica behind terrific pitching performances by Nick O'Donnell and Andrew Daschbach who held both opponents to only one run.

M-A scored 10 runs and 19 runs in those victories with great hitting throughout the lineup. Daschbach helped his own cause with four hits, including a triple, double, two singles and five RBIs. Arnaud Laprais and Tyler Koo chipped in with two hits apiece and Jack Posthauer had a bases-clearing double.

The M-A defense turned three double plays in the tournament and played solid defense in each game. M-A was eliminated by Half Moon Bay in its fourth game.



E-mail Vytas Mazeika at vmazeika@dailynewsgroup.com.