Pinto All-Stars Advance to Section Tournament

The pressure was on for the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s 8U Pinto All-Stars on Sunday in Manhattan Beach. A loss would eliminate them from the PONY District 1 South Bay Tournament while a victory would clinch a spot in the Section playoffs.

Henry Mariscal struck out four batters in three scoreless innings, Jivan Girodet hit a three-run double to highlight a five-run first inning and Sammy Petrocelli stole home and pitched the last two innings of an 8-4 triumph over Redondo Sunset. Section playoffs begin at 4:30 p.m. today at Pico Rivera, where  Palisades takes on John Mendez.

After dropping Saturday’s first game 10-3 to East Long Beach, Palisades stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament with a 12-7 win against South Bay thanks to three hits by Saxon Wald and two apiece from Petrocelli and Nathan Eisfelder. Crew Morrow stole home as Palisades racked up 15 hits.

“We were a 7U team last year and while we didn’t win the experience built some character,” said head coach Jeff Eisfelder, who piloted the Pinto Cubs to the PPBA finals this season. “Our pitchers have been practicing at [assistant coach] Josh Morrow’s house for the last two years.”

The PPBA’s Bronco 11U All-Stars also dropped their first game of the District playoffs but bounced back Sunday with a 12-3 victory over South Bay. Palisades met East Long Beach in an elimination game Tuesday with the winner taking on tournament host Torrance American today at 5 p.m. for a Super Region playoff berth.

The PPBA’s Bronco 12U squad opens the District 1 playoffs today at 4:30 p.m., also at Pico Rivera, against East Long Beach.

Mustang All-Stars Host District Tournament

The PBBA’s Mustang Blue All-Stars are hosting the PONY District 2 tournament this Saturday and Sunday at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams. The double-elimination bracket features teams from Redondo, Pico Rivera, South Bay, Long Beach, Lynwood, Los Alamitos and Paramount.

Palisades opens against Redondo Saturday at noon. The final will be at 2 p.m. Sunday. The top four teams advance to the Section playoffs beginning next Friday in Santa Monica.