Tassajara Valley All Stars Display Hitting Prowess, Advance to Section 3 Finals

The Star: Niles-Centerville only sent 12 batters up to the plate in the first three innings, largely thanks to Tassajara starting pitcher Turner Olson. Allowing only one run and four hits, Olson made quick work of Niles-Centerville hitters. Olson was also active at the plate, earning three hits in three at-bats, scoring twice, and batting in two runs.

The Turning Point: After three innings Tassajara had a 4-1 lead and looked to be in control of the game. But it was an explosive 11-run fourth inning that sealed the victory. Niles-Centerville went through four pictures in an effort to stop Tassajara’s offensive onslaught in which there were seven hits, including a grand slam from Tyler Vanhole and a solo homer from Jack Fryer.

The Quote: "During district we went in thinking there wasn’t anyone who could out-hit us, and we still think that way," said Tassajara coach Jorge Garratt. “Our hitting has finally woken up.”

What's next? With the win, Tassajara advances to the Section 3 Tournament Finals on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Niles-Centerville drops to the elimination bracket and will play Hillsboro today at 5:30 p.m. in a game that will decide which team faces Tassajara in the finals.

--------------------------------------

Scoring eleven runs in one inning, the 12-year-old Tassajara Valley All Stars proved their dominance at the plate with a 15-1 victory over Niles-Centerville on Monday that places Tassajara just one win away from being named Section 3 Champions.

Undefeated so far in both district and sectional play, Tassajara is confident its winning streak will continue so long as the team keeps swinging the bats.

"During district we went in thinking there wasn’t anyone who could out-hit us, and we still think that way," said Tassajara coach Jorge Garratt. “Our hitting has finally woken up.”

It was in the fourth inning against Niles-Centerville that Tassajara’s batters clearly took control of the game.

After two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Tyler Vanhole stepped up to the plate and smashed a centerfield grand slam to give his team an 8-1 lead. But that was just the beginning.

Tassajara nearly batted through the order twice as player after player found a way on base. Patient at-bats and big hits, including a solo homer from Jack Fryer, helped the offense to rack up a total of 11 runs before the final out.

Niles-Centerville coach Daren Courter said his players on the mound were just having trouble locating their pitches and Tassajara took advantage.

While Niles-Centerville went through four pitchers in the fourth inning alone in a search for someone who could get the much-needed outs, Tassajara’s story on the mound was very different.

Turner Olson pitched the first three innings for Tassajara, facing only twelve batters and allowing one run, and Will Blackburn closed out the final inning.

“(Olson) doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, but he gets the groundouts,” said Garratt. “They were hitting the ball all over the place, but our players were there in time to get the out.”

The defensive prowess was made apparent in the third when shortstop Jack Fryer caught a pop fly and made a perfect throw to catcher Erik Krommenhoek who made the inning-ending tag at home.

The Tassajara all stars hope to continue both their defensive and offensive dominance in their game Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. when the Section 3 Championship is on the line. Niles-Centerville will face Hillsboro today, and the winner will take on Tassajara in the finals.

-----------------------------------------

Tassajara Valley        2 0 2 11 X X - 15 12 1

Niles-Centerville       0 0 1 0  X X -  1 5 2

Tassajara Valley (ab-r-h) Cindric 2-0-0, Blackburn 0-1-0, Fryer 3-2-1, Maloon 1-2-0, Krommenhoek 3-2-3, Garratt 2-0-0, White 2-1-2, McFarlane 1-0-0, Olson 3-2-3, Landman 1-1-0, Vanhole 3-2-2, Michalczik 1-0-0, Hubbard 1-2-1; Totals 23-15-12.

Niles-Centerville (ab-r-h) Benard 1-0-0, Lemus 2-0-2, Braun 2-0-0, Olvera 2-0-0, Brown 1-0-0, Rodriguez 1-0-0, Duran 1-0-0, Courter 2-1-1, McKinney 1-0-0, Leung 1-0-1, Anders 1-0-0, James 1-0-1; Totals 16-1-5.

Pitching

Tassajara Valley: Olson 3 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 K, 0 BB; Blackburn 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 K, 1 BB.

Niles-Centerville: Duran 2+ IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 K, 3 BB, HBP 1; Rodriguez 1+ IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 0 BB, HBP 2; Anders 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 H, 0 K, 3 BB; Olvera 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 K, 0 BB; Courter 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP.

Batting

2B – Leung (NC), Krommenhoek (T), Olson (T)
HR – Vanhole (T), Fryer (T)

RBI – Leung (NC), 5 Vanhole (T), Fryer (T), 2 Krommenhoek (T), Garratt (T), White (T), 2 Olson (T)