Jul 26, 2008

Alpine 9-10s claim divisional opener

Jones' grand slam, trio's pitching propels Little League all-stars

By Greg Lydon / Daily News Correspondent

The Little League Division 2 Tournament began Friday in Campbell with the best 9-and-10-year-old teams in Northern California competing.

Alpine/West Menlo, which earned its spot in the tournament by winning the District 52 and Section 3 championships, made a grand entrance Friday, overcoming three homers by Woodcreek to win 5-4.

"It's critical to get the first win," Alpine coach Mark Martella said. "Winning the first game is number-one."

Woodcreek blasted its way to a 3-0 lead, taking advantage of the long ball in the tiny field No. 2 at Campbell Little League.

Clayton Hall sent a two-run homer over the fence in the second inning for Woodcreek, then lefty Justin Watari fought off an inside fastball by Alpine starting pitcher Kodiak Conrad to give his team a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Watari looked to be jammed by the tough inside heater from Conrad, but the tiny ballpark layout didn't help the pitchers. Every fly ball had a fair shot to leave the venue.

"Both teams had to relearn the game a little today, getting used to the small field," Martella said. "Fly balls that are outs on that field (No. 1) were homers here."

With crafty lefty Conrad on the hill, Alpine needed some runs to aid their ace. Alpine first baseman Travis Jones picked up his pitcher with one big swing.

Alpine loaded the bases off two walks and a Rylan Pade single to the gap. Mitch Martella hit a two-out slow roller to short, but the ball was bobbled, allowing Matt Hennefarth to score on the error.

Jones strolled to the dish with the bases full, then unloaded them with a deep grand slam to right field.

Jones was mobbed at the plate by a happy group of teammates. The blast put Alpine on top 5-3 in the third inning.

"I'm thrilled for Travis," Martella said. "That was a great at-bat. We needed a line drive, and he gave us one. He did what he was supposed to do."

Woodcreek answered with its third bomb of the day in its half of the third to slice the lead to 5-4, but after Conrad hit pitch No. 75, the Alpine bullpen stepped into the light.

Pade pitched a clean fifth, followed by Jared Lucian closing the door in the sixth.

Both relievers left one runner stranded. Lucian's final out of the game was a deep fly ball to center field that nearly left the field. The blast would have been a two-run walk-off dinger.

"Our starter pitched four great innings for us tonight," Martella said. "Both (relievers) we used didn't go over 20 pitches, so we can go to them tomorrow. Rylan got the final out in the fifth on his 20th pitch."

Alpine is back in action today at 3 p.m. The Division 2 final will be Wednesday.