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Trailing by two runs, NorCal scored four in the bottom of the fifth to defeat SoCal 7-5 before 5,500.
Ryan Anderson got NorCal started in the fifth with a one-out solo homer. Ryan Meisenheimer struck the really big blow in the inning with two out and the game tied and the bases full of Pleasanton American players, singling solidly up the middle.
Jacob Dronkers struck out the side in the sixth to get the save. Anderson earned the win in relief.
Justin Fowler had three hits for SoCal and Steve Harrison hit a two-run homer.
Both teams are now 1-2 in West Region play and both need to knock off Arizona in their final pool-play game to have a chance to make the semis.
SoCal leads NorCal 5-3 after 3 1/2 innings. Steven Harrison has a two-run home run for the Aliso Viejo National team.
SoCal had a run in and a runner on with two out in the top of the fourth when Brett Sebade stroked an apparent hit to left field. However, Nick Goldstein made a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.
There are an estimated 5,500 in attendance on a balmy night.
Utah got an equally strong pitching effort from Kayden Lunt who struck out 10 batters, before giving way to relievers in the fifth. Utah, however, could never get anything rolling offensively against Molnar, who went to 5 2/3 before giving way to Kenji Teshima. Molnar struck out eight batters.
Utah falls to 1-1.
More to come.
Photo by Jeff Malet/Staff Photographer
A 4-3 double play between Bryce Keeler and Calvin Westfall ended an impressive day for Aliso Viejo, who prevailed over Tustin Eastern 9-2 to advance to the Western Regional in San Bernardino. The regional starts Friday at Al Houghton Stadium.
After gamely keeping his team afloat, Tustin Eastern pitcher Robby Teel was relieved for Jake Hazard in the bottom of the fifth. After starter Brandon Guerts allowed the first four batters of the game to score, Teel kept potent Aliso Viejo to three runs, keeping Tustin Eastern somewhat in the game.
However, Eastern has a big task ahead of it, down 7-2 with only one at-bat left.
Tustin Eastern finally got on the board against Justin Fowler, as Brandon Guerts and Robby Teel led off the top of the fourth with singles, eventually coming around to score. Guerts scored Eastern's first run on a passed ball by Steven Harrison, while a Brett Mellon sacrifice fly scored Teel to make it 7-2.
Teel held Aliso Viejo scoreless for the first time in the bottom of the fourth, giving themselves a glimmer of hope going into the top of fifth.
After striking out the side in the top of the second, Aliso Viejo pitcher Justin Fowler hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning, increasing his team's lead to 6-0. Fowler has been masterful on the mound, striking out five and only allowing a walk.
Going to the top of the third, Aliso Viejo is up 6-0.
Aliso Viejo chased Tustin Eastern starter Brandon Guerts quickly, as Bret Sebade's monstrous three-run homer helped stake it to a 4-0 lead. First baseman Calvin Westfall had an RBI single immediately before Sebade's bomb as the first four Aliso Viejo batters came around to score.
Robby Teel came in for Guerts and stopped the Aliso Viejo onslaught, but Tustin Eastern has itself in quite a hole as the second inning starts.
Here we are in breezy Murrieta, as my notebook is flailing in my face awaiting first pitch. Can Tustin Eastern force a Game 3, or will tonight be Aliso Viejo's night? The starting lineups.
1. Alec Propp CF
2. Brandon Guerts P
3. Robby Teel C
4. Jack Brkich 3B
5. Brett Mellon 1B
6. Tyler Levesque RF
7. Jake Hazard 2B
8. Nate Bruno SS
9. Quinn O'Dell LF
Aliso Viejo
1. Justin Fowler P
2. Steven Harrison C
3. Calvin Westfall 1B
4. Bret Sebade LF
5. Nathan Cole CF
6. Kyle Molnar SS
7. Kenji Teshima RF
8. Bryan Firks 3B
9. Bryce Keeler 2B
After playing nearly three hours on Saturday, Aliso Viejo is now one win away from earning a trip to the Western Regional Tournament Aug. 1 in San Bernardino. Aliso Viejo is 12-0 in all-star action.
The second game of the best-of-three series is 6 p.m. Sunday at Murrieta's Los Alamos Park.
Cedar City American is coming for the first time.
Nevada
Henderson Paseo Verde is making its first appearance.
Oregon
Washington
Mill Creek faced a tough task against Bainbridge Island, and still faces a tough road to San Bernardino against one of five teams still alive. Mill Creek's program is one of the state's best but hasn't been in California in 2002.
Arizona
Pool play wraps up Thursday, with the semifinals on Friday and the championship on Saturday. Arrowhead has been tough in Pool A, but look out for Canyon View and Scottsdale McCormick Ranch. Arrowhead is unbeaten.
Northern California
The tournament opened on Wednesday. Pleasanton had an impressive offensive effort with 18 runs in its win over Foothill. East Turlock American needed eight innings for a 1-0 win over Briarwood-El Camino. The winners bracket features Petaluma Valley and Woodcreek.
Southern California
It's starting to feel like an all Orange County final with Aliso Viejo already in the So Cal final, while Tustin needs a victory to advance.
Hawaii
The title game was played on Wednesday between Kaimuki and Waipio, which reached the West last season. Kaimuki was unbeaten but it had not played Waipio in the tournament.
Alaska, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming
It's uncertain as to which teams are in the state tournaments here but it would not be surprising to see the usual suspects: Missoula Southside (Montana), Dimond West (Alaska), North Boise (Idaho) and Laramie (Wyoming) back in San Bernardino.
Aliso Viejo advances to the best-of-three games Southern California series starting Saturday at Murrieta's Los Alamos Park. Tustin Eastern has to defeat Dos Pueblos Thursday night to advance to the final.
Magnolia Center scored one run in the top of the third, but Ken Hubbs answered with two in the bottom to trim Magnolia's lead to 5-3 going into the fourth.
Perhaps still shaken by Jake Ayala's injury, Ken Hubbs made two errors in the top of the inning after a leadoff single by Caleb Perry, eventually allowing Perry to score. Steven Carranza struck out the side to avoid any further damage.
Clutch two-out hits by Robert Rivas and Joe Ayala knocked in Hubbs' runs, with Rivas' double down the left-field line plating Patrick Mejia and Ayala's two-strike single to right bringing in David Robles.
Magnolia Center erupted for four runs against Ken Hubbs to take the early lead. Magnolia had four straight batters reach bases, including an RBI single by Joseph Santana, but the big play came on a sacrifice fly by Lucas Navigato.
Navigato's sac fly to deep center scored Cody Vaughan with Magnolia's second run, but two more runs scored when Hubbs catcher David Robles overthrew third baseman Patrick Mejia in an attempt to throw out Santana at third. The ball bounded into left, allowing Santana and Callen Lowery to both come in.
Hubbs got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Joe Ayala led off with a double and scored from third on a fielding error by Navigato at second. However, a potential big inning was nixed in one at-bat. With runners on first and third and no one out, Steven Carranza struck out on a low fastball that squirted through the legs of Magnolia catcher Caleb Perry. Cruz Duke took off from third to score on the wild pitch, but Perry recovered quickly to gather the ball and tag out Duke at home.
Now there's been a pause in the game, as Ken Hubbs' Jake Ayala is lying on the third-base line with an injury. The injury is unknown at this time, but Ayala was injured two days ago when he fouled a ball off his batting helmet. He sat out yesterday's game but was cleared to play today before the injury.
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