I have to start this article in the bottom of the 2nd with Hawaii leading TVBR 2-0 (I was late for the game start). The game was moved up from 5:30 to 1:00 as a summer rainstorm (they call them monsoons) was forecast for the afternoon – despite the 109 degree heat. Ok, on to the game.
Hawaii jumped to an early lead, but both sides struggled at the plate. Each team put a smattering of infield grounders and shallow pop-ups in play for outs keeping time in the dugout short. The game was pacing right along and the two run lead was starting to look like a real hurdle to overcome. We finally threatened a run in the bottom of the 4th.
Noah Robbins led off by taking one on the shoulder, followed by a Ryan Anderson fly-out to center and a looking strike-out to Daniel Jackson. With a 1-2 count and 2 out, Shawn Vincent executed on a perfect hit-and-run play by flairing a blooper to right field and Robbins motoring all the way to 3rd. Kyle Franco took his first pitch for a strike and the next pitch saw a classic 1st and 3rd play with Vincent stutter-stepping to 2nd trying to induce a throw, but SS took the throw from the catcher and fired back to catch Noah attempting to steal home for the 3rd out.
The heat was definitely on with both sides being warned to stop taunting the opposing pitchers with good-natured hoots and chants. Josh Sprugasci (starting pitcher) put their lead-off on 1st with a basehit to right, followed by a fly-out to center. Hawaiian #13 – a fire hydrant of a teenager, stepped up and bombed a towering homerun over the right field fence for 2 runs. With this, Coach Paul installed our new addition, Keith DeHollander on the bump. His first batter popped-up to center, followed by two consecutive basehits. With runners now at 1st and 3rd the islanders attempted their version of the old 1st and 3rd classic, but DeHollander was able to step-off to get the firstbase runner in a jam. Trying to keep the both runners in his sight, DeHollander did not commit a throw to any corner until finally throwing to Jake Dronkers at 1st, who looked like he was going to chase his runner to 2nd, but instead fired a strike to Robbins at 3rd to tag the retreating runner for the 3rd out.
Hawaii decided to put a new pitcher in for the 5th inning and TVBR took full advantage of the change. DeHollander was first up and took a pitch deep to center for an out, followed by Cam Santos for the 2nd out on a grounder to short. With 2 out now, Sprugasci worked the count for a walk on 3-1 with Casey Soltis following with a bunt single. Dronkers took the pitcher deep in the count drawing a walk on 3 and 2. Robbins also went to 3 and 2 getting hit by the 6th pitch for a dead ball RBI-HBP. Hawaii swapped pitchers again, but Ryan Anderson, also working the count to 3-2, hit a screamer down the 3rd baseline rolling all the way to the foul pole – in ran Soltis, Dronkers and Robbins chalking up a 3-RBI stand-up double for Anderson. DJ followed with his own 3-1 walk, but Vincent grounded to 2nd for the fielder’s choice 3rd out. Score tied 4 all.
DeHollander remained on the hill to start the 6th inning. His first batter earned a basehit up the middle, but he induced the next two into easy outs. The fourth batter reached after getting beaned on the foot. With two outs and two runners on, coach Paul decided to put Dronkers in for the next batter. His first pitch was a ball, but his next pitch was taken for well-hit fly-out to center to end the threat. The bottom of the 6th went by quickly with 3 up and 3 down for Tri-Valley.
Dronkers started the 7th with his lead-off batter reaching on a basehit to right, but the next batter missed a bunt and ruined their hit-and-run; DJ nailed the stealing runner at 2nd with a laser beam to Anderson’s glove. Dronkers induced this same batter to a swinging bunt ground out, followed by an HBP. With a runner at first, the 4th batter hit up the middle for a fielder’s choice at 2nd to end the inning. Now with only 3 outs left in the game, TVBR needed only 1 run to win and head into the Championship game; the loser would have to play directly after this game with only 30 minutes rest.
The Hawaiians changed pitchers again for the 7th and he kept the game intact to go to extra innings, getting Soltis, Anderson and DJ into pop-ups. Sam Nathan was installed to start the top of the 8th and made great use of his rocket fastball and got a little help from his Amador Valley High classmate, Dronkers. The first batter took a 1-1 pitch to the gap between 1st and 2nd basemen, but Dronkers diving and laying-out facedown gloved the ball with his outstretched arm, got up and beat the runner by a step. The 2nd batter lined a bullet into Robbins glove and the 3rd batter struck out on a 3-2 fastball.
Vincent led off the bottom of the 8th with a infield ground-out, but Nathan took ball 4 on 3-1. Austin Piscotty sub’d in for Santos and forced the pitcher to 6 pitches with Nathan stealing 2nd, and Piscotty hitting a middle center fly out. 2 outs now to Sprugasci, who took an 0-1 pitch right over the 2nd base bag and through the legs of a charging centerfielder allowing Nathan to sprint in for the walk-off win.
The Hawaiians, now in the loser bracket, had to play a 2nd game, which they lost to Westchester. Westchester (we beat them Wednesday night) will face us for the championships Saturday morning.
Side note: This has been a tournament of reunions. First we hooked up with our Taylorsville, Utah friends from last year’s World Series, and today, 3 of our boys reunited with two boys from Hawaii who played on Hawaii’s Little League World Champion squad. Back in 2008, Jake Dronkers, Austin Piscotty and Ryan Anderson were teammates on Pleasanton American Little League Majors (12 year olds) All Star team, led by coach Ron Anderson. That year, PALL won District, Section and Division titles and earned a spot at the Western Regionals in San Bernardino on the famous Road to Williamsport Little League World Series. In that game, we played Hawaii twice (losing both times unfortunately) who went on to win the National and World titles in Williamsport and now two players from this ’08 roster are on the 2010 Hawaii Babe Ruth all star team.
On another interesting side note, Jake, Ryan, Austin and Coach Ron are playing together again for the 5th straight all-star season. These boys started playing on the same post-season team in 2006 and have won 5 consecutive district championships (LL Dist. 57 in ’06, ’07, ’08 and BR Dist. 5 in ’09 and ’10). After beating Southern California-Westchester Wednesday night, these 4 boys have now also won their 3rd consecutive California State championships (LL ’08, BR ’09 and ’10). Congratulations, guys!
