Saratoga News

Moran stars in Colt win

Saratoga pulls out tight 2-1 victory over Willow Glen

By Dick Sparrer

Brady Moran will throw his share of blocks as a member of the Saratoga football team this fall.

But none will be any more impressive, nor any more important, than the one he threw last Sunday night--as the catcher for the Saratoga Colt League all-star baseball team.

Moran blocked off home plate in impressive fashion to tag out a Willow Glen runner and preserve a 2-1 Saratoga victory in the Colt League district tournament at Washington Park in Santa Clara.

Saratoga took a slim 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, but Willow Glen's Chris Ferraro beat out an infield hit with one out to keep the visitors alive.

Kevin Cardenas slapped a ground ball to Jimmy Heuther at second, and the Saratoga second sacker opted to allow pinch runner Jesse Romero to take second while getting the sure out at first.

With two outs, Fernando Castanada looped a soft single into right. But right fielder Matt Joyce came up throwing. First baseman Eric Raich took the relay on his knees and turned to fire a strike to the plate. Moran did the rest.

He stood like a rock at the plate, tagging Romero for the final out of the game.

It was an exciting finish to an exciting game for the Saratoga all-stars.

The locals fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second, but quickly answered back with a run in their half of the inning.

Robin Gill was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second, one of seven stolen bases for Saratoga in the game. An out later, Moran scorched a double down the left field line to drive in the run.

Nick Blue beat out a bunt single to put runners on the corners, and he stole second. But two outs later the runners were left stranded, and the game was knotted 1-1.

That's how it remained until the fifth when Saratoga scored the run that would prove the game winner, without benefit of a hit.

Mike Drew walked to open the inning. With one out, Joyce laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, but he was safe, and Drew ended up on third when the throw got away at first.

Joyce swiped second before Raich dropped a suicide-squeeze bunt to plate the second Saratoga run.

That's all Saratoga could manage offensively, but that's all the locals needed to secure the victory, thanks to the seventh inning heroics of Moran.

Saratoga had just two hits in the win but finished the day with seven stolen bases--two each by Joyce and Derek Cartmell and one each by Drew, Blue and Gill.

Drew went the distance to toss a four-hitter for the mound win. The right-hander struck out seven, walked just three--one of them intentionally-- and hit two batters.

The win kept the Saratoga 'stars alive in the tournament. They were scheduled to play again on Monday in a loser's bracket game.

Saratoga had dropped its opener 10-3 to a tough Morgan Hill club.

The locals were battling Morgan Hill in the early innings. It was tied 2-2 heading into the home half of the third. But Morgan Hill scored three in the third to move in front 5-2, then scored in each of the next three frames to clinch the victory.

Morgan Hill scored two in the first to go up 2-0, but Saratoga battled back with single runs in the second and third.

Joyce and Cartmell worked the Morgan Hill hurler for back-to-back walks in the second and took second and third on a wild pitch. André Sorba knocked in a run with a single, but Cartmell was tossed out at the plate to end the inning.

The locals tied the game in the second. Drew walked with one out and moved up on a wild pitch. Brian Grannum singled him home, and the game was tied 2-2.

But Morgan Hill scored in each of the next four innings to take command of the game, while Saratoga failed to capitalize on singles by Cartmell, Heuther, Drew and Joyce.

Saratoga didn't go down without a fight, though. The local 'stars put together a rally in the seventh.

Pinch hitter Ryan Orosz delivered a one-out single in the seventh and quickly stole second. He moved to third on a wild pitch before Drew worked the Morgan Hill pitcher for a walk. Orosz scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 10-3, Drew taking second.

Drew stole third before Grannum walked, then Grannum stole second to put two Saratoga runners in scoring position. But the Morgan Hill hurler settled down to strike out the last two hitters to nail down the victory.

Raich was tagged for the loss despite a solid mound performance for Saratoga, and Drew came up with the defensive gem of the day when the shortstop raced into left field to make a back-to-the-infield catch on a pop fly.

The Saratoga all-stars would have to win three straight games this week to get into the championship double-header July 17 at Washington Park.

Members of the Saratoga Colt all-star team include Drew, Grannum, Gill, Raich, Joyce, Cartmell, Moran, Sorba, Heuther, Orosz, Blue, Tory Goodnight, Adam Varteressian, Adam Crowley and Brett Miller.

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