Little League All Stars: Tassajara National 11s Advance to District 57 Winner's Bracket Championship

The Star: After watching Nathan Landman's first at bat, you knew he was going to have a good day. Landman launched the second pitch he saw into deep right field for a home run to give Tassajara National a 1-0 lead. He doubled twice in the fourth inning and scored both times as well.

The Turning Point: Entering the fourth inning, Tassajara National was clinging onto a two-run lead. After it was done hitting, the lead was 10. Landman, Jack Fryer and Jack Maloon led off the inning with three straight doubles. The big hit came Austin Hubbard launched a grand slam to right center to give Tassajara National a 13-3 lead.

The Quote: "All the boys work extremely hard," coach Jorge Garratt said. "They are all great teammates and love to play ball. The coaching staff and I are very proud of the team."

What's next? Tassajara National moves onto the finals of the winner's bracket where it will match up against Danville — which beat Pleasanton National 4-0 — on July 5 at Athan Downs. Tassajara National sits just two wins away from winning the tournament. Livermore American will move onto the loser's bracket where it will meet San Ramon LL Friday afternoon.

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After three innings, it was anyone's game.

After four, it was obvious who the better team was.

Tassajara National Little league, helped by a ten-run fourth inning, cruised by Livermore American to advance to the District 57 Tournament winner's bracket final.

"This was a big win for this team," coach Jorge Garratt said. "Last year (Livermore American) beat us, so it was great to top them this time around."

Tassajara National jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead off a Nathan Landman home-run and a Luke Garratt RBI single in the top of the first.

Livermore American matched Tassajara National with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Jeff Baron and Connor Parkerson both scored on a Jarod Heise RBI double.

Tassajara National countered with three in the top of the third led by an Aaron Hubbard RBI double.

Tassajara National really put the game away with ten runs in the fourth. Hubbard capped of the rally with a grand slam.

The silent hero for Tassajara National, however, was starting pitcher Jack Maloon. Maloon was dominant on the hill, striking out seven through three innings of work. He only allowed one walk and six hits. Nate White came in and shut down Livermore American in the bottom of the fourth.

"We hit the ball, threw strikes and fielded the ball," Garratt said. "All around this was a great win."

The biggest thing that came from this win, according to Garratt was momentum.

"Last year we lost early and had to fight through the loser's bracket," he said. "This year we're sitting in a different position and have a good shot at winning it all."

Even though the boys on Tassajara National are in a new situation, Garratt said the team is not getting over-confident at all.

"They have the perfect amount of confidence right now," he said. "I don't think these kids know what it's like to be over-confident anyway. They respect the game and their opponents."

Tassajara National will match up against reining state champions Danville LL in the finals of the winner's bracket. Tassajara National is not backing down from the game.

"We've been preparing all season to play Danville," Garratt said. "We're definitely ready for the game."

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Tassajara National  LL 15, Livermore American LL 3

Tassajara National 20110xx — 15 15 0  

Livermore American 0210xx — 3 5 0 

Tassajara National (ab-r-h)— Cindric 0-1-0, Olson 0-3-1, Landman 3-3-3, Fryer 3-3-3, Maloon 2-3-2, Prommenhoek 3-3-1, Garratt 1-3-1, Blackburn 0-2-2, Hubbard 2-3-2, McFarlane 0-1-0, White 0-0-0

Livermore American — Malski 0-2-0, Disbraw 1-1-1, Gonzales 0-2-0, Kerling 1-2-0, Baron 1-2-1, Parkerson 1-1-1, Tabaracci 0-0-0, Currie 0-2-0, Heise 1-2-0, Hill 0-1-0, Koch 0-1-0

Pitching

Tassajara National — Maloon 3 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 H, 7 K, 1 BB; White 1 IP 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 K, 0 BB

Livermore American — Hill 3 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 K, 1 BB; Kerling + IP, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 H, 0 K, 2 HP; Heise 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 1 BB; Baron 2/3 IP, 0 R, o ER, 1 H, 0 K, 0 BB

Hitting

2B — Hubbard (Tassajara National), (Tassajara National), 2, Fryer (Tassajara National), 2, Maloon (Tassajara National), Heise (Livermore American) HR — Landman (Tassajara National), 1^st, none on; Hubbard  (Tassajara National), 4^th, three on

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