San Mateo turns tables on Palo Alto, takes title

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 11, 2006 | by Richard Motroni, CORRESPONDENT

PALO ALTO -- The odds seemed quite long for San Mateo going into Monday's championship round of the Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Star Tournament at Baylands Park.

Survivors of a tough consolation bracket, San Mateo had to win two games against the same Palo Alto team it had lost to last Friday.

While most young teams would crumble in the face of such long odds, San Mateo stood firm. San Mateo stunned Palo Alto in two games, 4-1 and 7-5, to capture the championship.

The big difference between Friday and Monday was that San Mateo's hitters were smarter and more aggressive the second time around. In Monday's second and deciding game San Mateo scored five runs over the first four innings.

Even though Palo Alto made five errors, San Mateo batters came through when it mattered most. Andrew Vanisi proved his worth as a clutch hitter with two hits, including a first-inning RBI single. Dean Ferrari scored in the top of the second on an error, then connected for a RBI single in both the third and sixth inning.

After coming in as a reliever in the second inning, Tony Sanchez made his real mark in the fourth with a two-run double.

Facing elimination, Palo Alto rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, yet Sanchez managed to get the final out and the title.

In the first game Monday, strong pitching from Sam Tuivailala and solid defense were key.

Palo Alto hadseven hits off Tuivailala and had runners on base in every inning, except the second. However, San Mateo's defense turned two huge double plays and made only one error. Tuivailala, who recorded two strikeouts, forced opposing batters to consistent hit ground balls and let his defense do the rest.

Sanchez broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth on a leadoff triple to center, and came home on Jake Bruml's sacrifice fly. The following inning, San Mateo used three Palo Alto errors to score three runs. Tuivailala hit a RBI single, and Sanchez brought home another on a fielder's choice

San Mateo advances to the State Tournament at Alameda beginning on Saturday.

A few miles north at the Belmont Sports Complex, host Belmont experienced a reversal of fortune in Monday's Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Star consolation game against Mountain View.

In Saturday's opening round, Belmont was the victim of late- inning three-run rally in a loss to Palo Alto. On Monday, it was Belmont that pulled off a dramatic three-run rally, in the bottom of the sixth, to win a 9-7 thriller over Mountain View.

Tied 6-6, Vincenzo Mazzoni started the rally on a bunt single and scored on Jonathan Fukuhara's double to give Belmont the lead. Fukuhara soon came home when Brandon Cavan singled to left and later Brandon Fink drew a bases loaded walk.

Mountain View jumped to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second, then watch Belmont methodically fight back. Ryan Tana gave the home team a lift during the bottom half of the second, when he hit a two-run double down the right field line.

After both teams exhanged runs, Belmont stunned Mountain View with a fourth inning three-run rally. Fukuhara had an RBI infield single, Devin Bradley connected on a run-scoring sacrifice fly and Cavan hit an RBI single that tied the game, 6-6. Cavan along with Fukuhara, Tana and Jamie Fanti all had two hits.

The tournament resumes on Thursday as San Mateo takes on Palo Alto at 6 p.m. The loser will face Belmont on Friday at 6 p.m. Both games are at Belmont Sports Complex.

Baseball

Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old All-Stars

Championship Round

Palo Alto 000 010 0--1 7 3

San Mateo 000 130 x--4 6 1

Barnes and Bowers. Tuivailala, Sanchez (7) and Barbi and Hill (7). WP -- Tuivailala. LP -- Barnes. 2B -- Zeglin (PA); Vanisi, Leign (SM). 3B -- Sanchez (SM). 2 hits -- Vanisi (SM). 3 hits -- Barnes (PA).

San Mateo 111 201 0--7 10 0

Palo Alto 101 000 3--5 13 5

Brumel, Sanchez (2) and Hill and Barbi (5) and Hill (7). Zeglin, Cottrell (2), Braff (3), Crowder (6) and Bowers. WP -- Sanchez. LP - - Zeglin. 2B -- Sanchez, Kelly (SM); 3B -- Tenanes, Diekroger (PA). 2 hits -- Tuivailala, Vanisi, Ferrari (SM); Diekroger, Tananes, Crowder (PA). 2 RBI -- Sanchez, Ferrari (SM); Tananes (PA).

Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old All-Stars

Mountain View 050 100 1--7 9 7

Belmont 021 303 x--9 11 3

Contreras, McLauchlan (4), Schultz (6) and Gopal and Hoo (4). Bradley, Stahl (7), Tana (7) and Fanti. WP -- Bradley. LP -- Schultz. 2B -- Fukuhara, Bradley, Tana (B). 2 hits -- Hoo (MV); Fukahara, Cavan, Fonti, Tana (B). 3 hits --Treadwell (MV). 2 RBI -- Treadwell, Hoo (MV); Fukahara, Cavan, Tana (MV).

American Legion

Sunday's scores

Los Altos 000 100 0--1 2 2

San Mateo Bulldogs (18-10, 10-1) 220 010 x--5 6 1

Armanino, Lucido (4), Sargent (7) and Schindler. WP -- Armanino. 2B -- Geyton 2 (SM). 3B -- Chistman (SM). 2 hits -- Geyton (SM).

Los Altos 020 010 0--3 10 4

San Mateo Bulldogs (19-10, 11-1) 070 002 x--9 11 3

Williams, Whitney (5), Christman (6) and Kornberg. WP -- Williams. 2B -- Geyton, Montague, Leary, Calderon (SM). 2 hits -- Sargent, Leary, Montague (SM). 2 RBI -- Armanino, Montague (SM).

Menlo Park --13 17 1