PPBA Pinto All-Stars Reach Section Semifinals

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

It was an exciting week on the diamond for the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s Pinto 8U All-Stars, who showed heart, skill and determination throughout the Pony Section 2 playoffs at Los Amigos Park in Santa Monica.

The squad opened the double-elimination tournament last Friday with a 19-5 victory over Cheviot Hills’ B team. In Saturday’s first game, Palisades fell to Norwalk, 11-8.

Next up was an elimination game against Wilmington and the Palisades All-Stars were up to the task, taking a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning and hanging on to win, 7-5.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, Jake Gardner got a strikeout and catcher Owen Ghaffari tagged a runner out at the plate to preserve a 4-3 lead.

Tommy Lavia hit an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch to give Palisades breathing room in the sixth. Facing elimination again Sunday, Palisades took an early lead against Pico Rivera and held on to prevail, 7-6.

Lavia had three hits and pitcher Jack Michael had nine strikeouts in five strong innings on the mound.

Palisades’ run finally ended in a 12-1 loss to Santa Monica thatv evened the team’s record at 9-9.

Meanwhile, the PPBA’s Mustang 9U All-Stars were in action, going 4-1 in Thousand Oaks.

Roman Hawk had three hits, Teddy Grandy had three RBIs and  pitcher Hayes Weller had five strikeouts in three innings in a 14-6 victory over Westlake.

In a 16-11 victory over Simi White, Max Dorband had a triple, a double, two singles and five RBIs while Dylan Iwanyk and Quincy  Watson each added three hits. Palisades scored nine runs in the second inning of its next game, a 15-13 triumph over Monrovia highlighted by Dorband’s two hits and three RBIs.

Palisades closed the tournament with an impressive 18-7 victory over Hart Red to improve to 13-10. Dorband again led the way with four hits and Jett Teegardin added three hits and four RBIs.

The 11U All-Stars (8-7) went 2-2 in Thousand Oaks, beating West Hills and Agoura and falling to Diamond Bar and Newbury Park.

The 10U All-Stars (7-4) went  3-1 in Simi Valley, beating Santa Ynez twice by scores of 11-9 and 11-6, losing to Hart and capping the tournament with a 12-4 win against Northside Oxnard.

The Bronco 12U All-Stars continued their impressive play, winning three of four to take the Xtreme Silver final and improving to 19-2.