BASEBALL: Leland Defeats Soquel in Tourney Opener

The Score: Leland 5, Soquel 1

The Stars: Leland High starting pitcher Dylan Bell and Soquel starter Nat Hamby, both coincidently wearing the same number 20, squared off for the first time since their Little League days in Round One of the Baseball Battles Cancer Tournament held at Leland High in San Jose on Tuesday. Both pitchers were the stars early, holding each side scoreless in the first five innings of play. Soquel’s Fabiano Hale broke up the shutout in the top half of the sixth, drilling a RBI single to deep left field to give the Knights the 1-0 lead and some much needed breathing room for Hamby. Leland’s Niko Saenz and Robert Moffatt came in both as pinch hitters late in the sixth inning and strung together back-to-back hits that resulted in three runs and a roar from the Chargers’ dugout.

The Turning Point: Everything changed for the Knights in the sixth. After taking a one-run lead in the top half of the frame, Leland roared back with some clutch play from its bench. With one out and a runner on first, Leland’s Zach Orozco launched a RBI double into centerfield gap tying the game at one. Leland’s Head Coach Mike Sparrer then decided to insert pinch hitter Niko Saenz who delivered with a clutch RBI single to left field scoring Orozco. Sparrer was not done just yet as he inserted another pinch hitter in Moffat, who hit a high fastball for a back breaking two-run double. Chargers ended the late inning rally scoring five runs in total.

The Quotes: “It was tough through six (innings),” said Chargers’ Dylan Bell in regards to the scoreless game. “Our offense really stepped up when we were down in the bottom of the sixth.”

Dylan Bell pitched sixth flawless innings, allowing only one run with six strikeouts and three walks.

“We didn’t have any errors. Two people came off the bench and did what the needed to do,” said Soquel Head Coach Robert Zuniga about Leland’s late inning rally. “Basically we didn’t get them at the right time.”

Hamby did finish the sixth inning to give himself the complete game, fanning five batters during the six innings of work.

“I was leaving the ball up and they started hitting it—I guess the fatigue got to me,” said Soquel’s Hamby about the sixth inning.

What’s Next? Leland (6-9, 4-8 MHL) moves on in the bracket as they face yesterday’s first round winner Aptos High, while (10-4-1, 6-1 SCCAL) squares off with today at Leland.

The Bottom Line: The tournament proceeds go to the American Breast Cancer Foundation. The weeklong event continues today and will wrap up on Saturday. Soquel and Scotts Valley will meet up today, but the contest will not count towards the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League standings.