Woodland National 9-10 Little League All-Stars keep finding ways to say alive in the Northern California/State Tournament.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday, Woodland National rallied for five runs en route to an 8-4 victory over host Exeter in an elimination game.
The outcome was Woodland National’s third straight do-or-die win after an opening round loss and means they play again today at 7 p.m. in the loser’s bracket final against Morada of Stockton. The winner of that game would face Santa Clara Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. needing two victories to take the title.
Woodland National opened the bottom of the fifth against Exeter by getting its first six batters on base. Included in the inning were singles by Matthew Nunez and Damien Garcia, a double by Hayden Newsom and a sacrifice fly by Talon Sibley.
“Everything we hit was hit hard,” Woodland National manager Matt Bryson said.
“Even the guys who reached by error smoked the ball.”
Starting pitcher Carson Timothy retired two batters in the top of the sixth before giving way to Russell Hanson because of pitch count. Hanson got the final out as Woodland National improved to 3-1 in the tournament, 11-1 overall in the postseason.
“Carson was good on the mound,” Bryson said. “He had good stuff tonight. He kept them in check.”
Woodland National took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third on RBI singles by Nunez, Newsom and Jack Carner. Exeter responded by scoring twice in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a brief lead.
Nunez will start on the mound today for Woodland National against Morada.
WOODLAND NATIONAL 8, EXETER 4
E 000 220 — 4 W 003 05x — 8
Top hitters: WN—Matthew Nunez 2×4; Jack Carner 2×3; Hayden Newsom 2×3; Damien Garcia 1×1.
