Jul 3, 2008

SM National capitalizes on opportunities

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

San Mateo National didn't look any gift horses in the mouth in its Little League District 52 9-10-year-old All-Stars game with Redwood City National at Marina Field in Belmont on Wednesday. SM National reaped the benefit of 10 bases on balls served up by RC National pitching in a 5-2 victory.

SM National tangles with San Carlos in a winners bracket game next Monday at 5 p.m. RC National tries to stay alive in an elimination game vs. San Mateo American this Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

The numbers lied some in San Mateo National's victory. RC National outhit SM National 5-4 and committed zero errors to SM National's three.

"We played great defense," RC National manager Jeff Voltattorni said. "San Mateo National made the most of their opportunities. We had to go deep in our pitching staff, too."

Pitching well for SM National were two Christophers - Christopher Apecechea and Christopher Underwood. Apecechea went the first four innings, giving up an unearned run in the third inning to pick up the win. Underwood worked the final two stanzas for a save. He allowed a two-out single by Alexii Sigona and an RBI double by Brian Knapp in the fifth inning. Knapp, who had three hits while batting in the fourth hole, had driven in Sigona in the third inning with a single.

Apecechea, who walked two batters, finished with seven strikeouts. Pitching to his cousin, catcher Alex Hernandez, Apecechea fanned the side in the fourth inning.

"My fastball and my change-up were my best pitches," Apecechea said.

"Christopher works hard and comes early to every practice," Hernandez said. "He's a leader for us."

Underwood, who tripled in two runs in the second inning, was a pest on the bases. Besides tripling deep to right field, the speedy Underwood also walked three times while batting out of the leadoff spot in the order. Underwood tallied a run in the sixth after advancing to third on two wild pitches.

SM National went up 3-1 in the fourth when pinch-runner Jordan Tong barely beat a play at the plate on a wild pitch. Tong was running for Anthony Leary, who had singled. SM National threatened a big inning in the fifth, loading the bases on a double by Ryan Sambel, a walk to Dominic Freschet and a single by Nick Puccinelli. RC National forced out two runners at home before Tyler Villaroman walked to force in a run.

Despite the three bobbles, SM National made some tremendous defensive plays to help its cause. Puccinelli, playing in right field, threw out a runner at first base in the fifth. Right fielder John Besse charged in to make a catch in the second inning, despite colliding with Tong, who was playing at second base.

RC National flashed some leather, as well. Right fielder Ryan Voltattorni stuck his glove up at the last second to rob Sambel in the third. Center fielder Jimmy Wohrer outdid Voltattorni when the next batter, Freschet, lined one to right-center that was snagged by a hustling Wohrer.

RC National got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but Underwood closed it out on a flyball to right field.

"Our strength is that we're hungry," SM National manager Arnie Sambel said. "A lot of my players didn't get a chance to do much during the regular season. Now they're getting their chance to play. This was a good, solid win for us."



E-mail John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.