Pali Sports Extra

PPBA 12U All-Stars Eliminated by Cheviot Hills

July 19, 2015

Jack Hassett throws a strike for the PPBA Bronco 12U All-Stars against Cheviot Hills. / Photo: Steve Galluzzo — Jack Hassett throws a strike for the PPBA Bronco 12U All-Stars during Sunday’s 11-6 loss to Cheviot Hills. / Photo: Steve Galluzzo

The Pacific Palisades Baseball Association‘s Bronco 12U All-Stars lost to Cheviot Hills 11-6 Sunday and were eliminated from the PONY Section tournament at the Field of Dreams.

Cheviot Hills took a 10-0 lead before Palisades rallied for six runs in the final two innings.

“Maybe we didn’t play our best this weekend, but this is the strongest West Region I’ve seen in eight years — these were all very good teams,” Palisades Coach Joe Collins said. We made some errors today and came back, we just dug too deep a hole.”

Jack Hassett scored on a groundout by pinch hitter Chris Stimming, then Alec Morrison belted a two-run homer to left field in the fifth. In Palisades’ next at-bat, Lane Johnson scored on a fielder’s choice by Cooper Morrow and Stimming hit a two-RBI single down the right field line.

In its opener last Wednesday, Palisades needed only six innings to beat Norwalk 16-6.

Norwalk took a 3-0 lead in the first inning but Palisades answered with three of its own in the top of the second on Jake Moore’s bases-clearing double to the center field fence.

In the third, Charlie Collins singled to score Hassett, Cooper Robinson doubled to score Collins and Morrow hit a sacrifice fly to give Palisades a 6-3 lead. Collins and Johnson had RBI hits in the fourth and Joe Grode doubled to score Connor Colao in the fifth. Grode scored on an error, Hassett scored on Robinson’s double and Robinson scored on an error to make it 13-5.

Morrison had an RBI single, Grode had an RBI double and Ryan Kennedy had an RBI single in the sixth to close the scoring.

Colao had four strikeouts in three innings and Griffin Milner pitched the last three innings, striking out the side in the fifth.

In the semifinals of the winner’s bracket, Palisades fell 9-7 to eventual champion East Long Beach. Both teams scored four runs in the third inning.

Colao scored on a single by Grode, Morrison and Grode scored on a single by Hassett and Hassett scored on a single by Johnson. In the fifth, was awarded home on a balk.

Eleven players on the 12U roster, along with PPBA Bronco Will Lawrence, will travel to New York Aug. 1-7 for the Cooperstown Tournament.

Palisades finished the All-Star season 17-4-1.

— Steve Galluzzo