District 52 is one of the most challenging District All Star tournaments in the state. Our 12U team were equipped with the talent to make a deep run in the tournament and they followed through with a gritty and determined performance. While they fell short of bringing a banner home to Martens, they represented our community well and played like champions! Thank you to our players, coaches, parents and fans for your support of this team through their strong All Star run!
Tournament Highlights
Game 1: Win 2-0 vs. San Carlos
Caleb Fuata (SMNLL Majors MVP) led the way on the mound with 5 2/3 shutout innings, striking out 8. The offense started the tournament off slow, but a Christopher Vasquez two run HR in the bottom of the 4th gave SMNLL all they would need to get past San Carlos.
Game 2: Loss 3-2 vs. San Mateo American
This was a tightly contested battle against cross town rival San Mateo American. American scratched 3 runs in the first inning off starting pitcher Christopher Vazquez, who then settled in, not giving up another run through 5 innings. SMNLL chipped away at the lead with runs in the 2nd and 5th inning. In the bottom of the 6th, SMNLL had things set up for a comeback win, with William Falzon and Caleb Fuata each starting the inning off with singles. Then a break fell to American, where a ground ball off the bat of Vazquez started foul, came back into fair territory, went foul again and then ultimately ended up in fair territory in front of the third base bag where American's third baseman was able to tag third base as he fielded the ball narrowly beating the runner for the first out. SMNLL couldn't cash in from there. Tough loss!
Game 3: Win 5-3 vs. Hillsborough
Another rivalry game against a Hillsborough team that beat our boys two years prior as 10 year olds in the District 52 championship. Caleb Fuata took the hill again throwing 5 strong innings surrendering 3 runs. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th, SMNLL got a rally going with singles by Falzon and Vazquez, bringing clean up hitter Michael Bahamondes to the plate who launched a no-doubt 3-run walk off HR to eliminate Hillsborough and keep SMNLL's hopes alive! Definitely the highlight of the tournament!
Game 4: Win 12-1 vs. Palo Alto
SMNLL took care of business in this one, led by a strong pitching performance by Nathan Bosick (4 IP; 1 ER; 4 Ks). The middle of the order carried the offense with Vazquez, Bahamondes, and Bosick combining to go 8 for 11 with 2 doubles, 1 HR (Bahamondes), and 6 RBIs.
Game 5: Loss 8 - 6 vs. San Mateo American
SMNLL's run came to end in another tight hard-fought battle against rival San Mateo American in the District 52 semi-final. American took a 5 - 1 lead into the top of 6th. Our offense that sputtered throughout the day, outside of a Bahamondes solo HR in the 2nd inning, showed signs of life with their backs against the wall and 3 outs away from elimination. A 5-run rally in the 6th, capped by a Jackson Bottani's bases loaded single gave SMNLL a 6-5 lead. However, American came back with 2 HRs in the bottom of the 6th to knock our boys out of the tournament in excruciating fashion.
