With spring around the corner the weather was fine for a Tuesday showdown between the Red Sox and the Cardinals. Alto spectators were treated to a great game with the Red Sox getting their first win of the season 6-1. The Cards got going early with singles by Gio Perez and Nolan Ward and then a double by Tommy Strong but couldn’t push any runs across. The Red Sox got all they needed in the 2nd with a laser to the fence for a double by Henry Edwards followed by an RBI single by Hugo Bockh and a hit from Theo Adam. Oliver Churcher and Frankie Foster each pitched some solid innings for the Sox before Henry slammed the door striking out the side in the 7th. Tianu Koss and Roberto Santo Domingo had quality outings for the Cards who kept it a 2-run game until late.
Wednesday, in a reprise of the 2023 City Championship the Pirates played the Giants in a nail biter that ended in a HBP extra-innings walk-off win for the Giants 5-4. The first 3 innings were scoreless and included Wade Green striking out the side. Mose Merrick got the Pirates started in the 4th with a hit and scored on an RBI single from William Palmer. After some great defense by Gavin Bailey, the Giants rallied in the 5th buoyed by a double from Forrest Slavin, a rope by Erickson Kenyon and a stellar 2-out bunt base hit by Jacob DiPippa. Knotted 3-3 after 7, the teams went into extra innings as darkness descended over Alto. Fortunately middle-schoolers have better eyesight than coaches and the game went on. A clutch RBI single from Cal Byrne in the 8th gave the Pirates the lead but it wasn’t enough as the Giants plated 2 for the win despite a gritty pitching effort from Colton Zinn who also had 2 hits in the game.
The Orioles notched their first victory with a win over the Mets on Thursday 7-5. Mets Nate Lee and Nikki Welter combined for 3 hits and 3 RBIs but the Orioles erased a 4-run lead by scoring 6 in the 4th inning capped by a big 2-out 2 RBI hit from Weston Kellogg. Parker Schaffer had 2 walks and scored 2 runs. The Mets pitched 7 different players including a strong debut from Griffin Newby.
The rains returned to douse the field on Friday and Saturday but play continued after lunch on Sunday. With bright sunshine and some oddly swirling winds, the Pirates took on the Cardinals while a handful of others took on the task of keeping the new fence standing.
Austin Miller had a hit, scored 2 runs, and struck out 5 batters in 2 innings of work. Hunter Feduska had his first hit and RBI and Cal Byrne continued his hot hitting with 2 more. The Pirates broke the game open with 10 runs in the 4th winning 14-2. Pirate pitchers recorded 12Ks in 15 outs giving up a lone hit to Tianu the Boss Koss who plated Hudson Willams and Gio Perez.
Red Sox Henry Edwards left no doubt with his first home run — sailing it over the new fence and the old fence down the left field line. The first inning shot with Heath Hochanadel aboard gave the Sox the lead in what was a very close game for 5 innings. Tenzin Mak was sharp on the hill and had a hit and a pair of RBIs. Some sparkling defense from James Walston and Frankie Foster and a pair of bullets from Hugo Bockh propelled them to an 11-2 win. The Mets Pierce Brandt got his first hit and Luca Masdea had a pair of walks and a run scored.
Away from home the O’s battled a mean sun and lost to the TPLL Tigers 14-2 at Granada. Milo Franklin and Gael O’Brien had the lone hits. The Cardinals had an outing to “Big Lefty” in Fairfax where they dropped a contest 13-6 to the WMLL A’s. Tommy Strong had a double and Curren Glynn had a hit.
Through March 24
Juniors Home Runs
Henry Edwards (Red Sox) 1
Who’s next?
Juniors Fireballers (Ks/Inning Pitched, 2+ Min)
Finn Reilly (Mets) 3.0
Henry Edwards (Red Sox) 2.7
Nico Rocherolle (Pirates) 2.5
James Cerchiai (Pirates) 2.5
Bradley Marshall (Giants) 2.1
Liam Garlick (Giants) 1.8
Tianu Koss (Cardinals) 1.8
Austin Miller (Pirates) 1.7
Nikki Welter (Mets) 1.7
We have games slated this week Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu and Saturday. Sadly, there will be some more rain. Alto Snack Shack is slated to be open Saturday and possibly Sunday if we have to push games back again.
Come enjoy the fun. The full schedule is here (toggle to Juniors)
See you at Alto!
WiFi at Alto is courtesy of our new Juniors Technology Sponsor — Offline Ventures.
And this year couldn’t be possible without an amazing roster of sponsors led by Juniors Division Sponsor — Morgan Stanley. A big thank you to Miller Avenue Advisors, San Francisco Ear, Nose & Throat, Stefano’s, The McDonnell Group, The Zinn Law Firm, and Studio Collins Weir!
Mill Valley Little League Is Proud To Be Sponsored By
