Jul 23, 2008

South City keeps rolling along

Miguel's pitching helps 13-and-14-year-old stars win in regional

By Scott Campbell / Bay Area News Group

New tournament. Same dominance.

In opening the regional tournament Tuesday night, South San Francisco picked up right where it left off. Two days after wrapping up its sectional title in overwhelming fashion, the 13-and-14 year-old Pony All-Stars powered to a 10-0 victory in six innings over Santa Clara at Rosita Park.

Right-hander Chris Miguel limited Santa Clara to two singles and helped himself at the plate with a home run and a double.

South City, which totaled 10 hits, advances to play Saturday at noon, and meets the winner of tonight's Mid County vs. Los Altos contest.

With its third postseason shutout, South City improved to 5-0 in its 10-day run. The Peninsula Region's section champion has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 59-14.

"I feel like we definitely have some momentum right now," said coach Mike Ohman, who correctly predicted the quick turnaround would benefit his team. "I wish we were playing day-to-day because we're in a good groove."

Miguel, who took a no-hitter into the fifth, struck out eight and walked two in six innings. He clubbed his third homer in five games - a solo shot - and went 2-for-3, registering the game's only extra-base hits.

Center fielder Tyler Rios (3-for-4) reached base four times, and catcher Trevor Kelly went 2-for-3.

South City took a 3-0 lead before Santa Clara had its first at-bat, jumping ahead behind one hit and three errors in the first.


Sunday's title victory

The South City All-Stars topped San Carlos 7-4 at Belle Air in San Bruno on Sunday to win the sectional crown and advance to the regional championships.

Along with the city's Bronco and Colt titles, South San Francisco owns three section titles and boasts regional entrants at all three levels.

In the Pony finale, South City wrapped up its dominant four-game run behind another solid effort from its starting pitcher. Brad Los allowed one unearned run and struck out 11 in five innings, and the champions never trailed while scoring three runs via leadoff walks.

Assessing his team's sectional run, a pleased Ohman said, "We played to our potential."

While lauding Los and Miguel for their performances on the mound, Ohman said his batters haven't hit their stride - "it's encouraging to know it can only get better."

San Carlos, which defeated San Bruno on Saturday afternoon to win the losers bracket, needed to beat South City twice to clinch the championship. But Los overcame six walks by limiting San Carlos to three hits and exited with his team leading 5-1.

Maurice Fuller, who reached on an error and scored on Miguel's sacrifice fly to stake Los to a 2-0 third-inning lead, singled home A.J. Santiago in the fourth to give South City a three-run cushion. Miguel led off the fifth with a home run, and Santiago, Justin Eclavea and pinch-hitter Nico Hobland added RBI singles as the champs raced ahead 7-1 by the sixth.

San Carlos finally got its offense rolling in the seventh. Bralley Northagel hammered a three-run homer to straightaway center, driving in James Beekley and Connor Bosch, who both walked.

South City first baseman Greg Bildhauer and Fuller had two hits apiece. Los, who struck out 17 in a one-hit shutout of Pacifica a week earlier, amassed 28 strikeouts in two starts.

South San Francisco's Colt All-Stars begin regional play on Thursday at 5 p.m., and the city's Bronco All-Stars start on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Colt and Bronco tournaments are both held at PAL Stadium in San Jose.