By Rob Polk
Last year, we were runner up, 2nd place, with Watsonville winning the 8-9 Championship but we were the only team to beat Watsonville for the entire tournament.
The 9-10’s was held in Scotts Valley, but Championship day for all ages were hosted on our home field, in Aptos. Our goal was to be there in Aptos for the Championship.
We had a tough pool, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, San Lorenzo Valley, and Pajaro Valley. Our goal to Focus on SLV, SV, and PV as the only the top 2 teams from each pool moves onto the championship bracket. We beat SLV 8-0. Jake Galster was on fire on the mound that day. We lost to Watsonville 4-1, but it was a close game.
We beat Scotts Valley 10-0. Jake again was living on that outside corner that day. The kids were fired up! Trevor Polk played shortstop since Jake was pitching. Not one ball got by him even hard hits up the middle, somehow Trevor gloved it, and got the out at first. We played PV in a game that didn’t matter, but it did to PV! That was the only game they won all tournament, and they were happy.
Griffin Short was our rock. He played behind home plate every inning of this tournament, and did a great job, calling pitches and not many got by him. Ronin Tidd also hit a home run against Capitola-Soquel that put a really nice dent in it.
We started pool play against Capitola-Soquel, defeated them 11-5. Then we defeated Watsonville 12-2 in a mercy ruling. We achieved our goal!! We were the first seed in Aptos! Not sure if it was all the people, or if the team was tired…. but we lost back-to-back to Watsonville, on our home field, 11-5 and again 11-7. Again, we were Runner up, and again, the only team to beat Watsonville in the tournament.