Little League: Playoffs underway for ballplayers

San Lorenzo Valley Little League
 
Majors Division
Diamondbacks 4, Giants 3
Down 3-0 into the bottom of the fifth, the D-backs Taj Yanez cracked a double followed by Trent Walker’s RBI singled. Then with two out, Tanner Murray walked, Howard Forehan singled, Elliot Brown connected and Murray scored to tie the game. Then Luka Mahkovtz singled to drive in Forehan with the go-ahead run.
Murray pitched a complete game for the win. The Giants scored two runs on Max Crandall’s double. Later Zane Saunders knocked in Jacob Auldridge with a double.
 
Giants 12, Diamondbacks 11
In the Majors championship game, the Giants batted around and scored six runs for the walk-off win in the sixth inning.
In the rally, Blake Kuehl and Vinny Prograce singled, Jacob Auldridge walked, and his brother Julian crushed a deep fly that found grass to end the game. Max Crandall hit a fourth-inning homer for the Giants and Kuehl was 4-for-4 on the day.
For the D-backs, Craig Yeomans, Tanner Murray, and Howard Forehan hit consecutive doubles, and Luka Mahkovtz singled in two runs. The Giants move on to the District 39 Tournament of Champions which begins June 10.
Minors Division
Angles 21, Giants 7
The Angles qualified for the District 39 Tournament of Champions behind RBI singles by Aidan Callahan and Reid Olmsted and a double to the fence by Callahan.
For the Giants Quinn Herzon tripled, Noah Cole doubled and by Ryan Oropeza and Tyler Cambron had RBI singles.
Scotts Valley Little League
AAA Division
Red Sox 14, Pirates 0
For the Sox Bryce Gundersen went 3-for-3 with a walk and while scoring four times – in addition to pitching two scoreless innings. Relievers Evan Foy and Casey Collins each pitched an inning and a half of scoreless ball.
At the plate, Dylan Leonard added three hits and four RBIs, while Dominic Papagni Martinez had a single and a triple.
Majors Division
Blue Jays 5, Phillies 1
The Blue Jays won the opening playoff game in the Majors Division, shutting down the Phillies with a score of 5-1. Jays starting pitcher Zac Yates went 3 1/3 innings, striking out eight for the win. Reliever Venny Petrini struck out four of the five batters he faced, while Zach Snider closed the game.
Tanner Steen led the Jays’ offense with a single and double, scoring twice and driving in a run.  Yates had a pair of RBI singles, and Snider drove in another run with a base hit.
Jack Kastner and Brendan Magee each reached base in all three plate appearances for the Phillies.
Rays 9, Blue Jays 5
Rays pitchers allowed five runs, but struck out 12 Blue Jays hitters in the win. Kyle Raymond, Reilly Merlo and Logan Hudson pitched for the Rays.
At the plate, Kyle Raymond was 3-for-4 with double and two runs scored; Daniel Shamshoian was 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in a run; Trevor Stocker was 2-for-2 with a walk, scoring twice and driving in a pair. Blue Jays hitters Conor Santos, Vinny Petrini, Tanner Steen, Zac Yates and Dallas Eisenhut each had singles.
Rays 4, Giants 3
Rays pitchers held the Giants to three runs in the nailbiter.
In 3 2/3 innings, Kyle Raymond gave up two runs and had five strikeouts. Logan Hudson also stuck out five in 2 1/3 innings of work.
At the plate, Raymond was 2-for-3; Daniel Shamshoian was 3-for-3, scoring twice; Reilly Merlo went 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch; Trevor Stocker singled, scored, and drove in a run; and John Sosa-Guaita went 2-for-3 with a double.
For the Giants Nathan Pisciotta struck out four and Garrett Fisher stuck out three.
Nathan Pisciotta was 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored; Carson Spence went 1-for-2 and scored; and Ryan Bariteau was 2-for-3.