Little League All Stars: Pleasanton National 11s Shut Out By Danville

The Star: Danville's starting pitcher, Darroch Koel, threw 64 pitches in 4 1/3 innings and allowed only two hits. He struck out five and didn't allow a run to the Pleasanton National team which had scored 23 runs in its two previous games.

The Turning Point: In the bottom of the third, Pleasanton was still very much in the game, trailing Danville by only one run. But with two outs and two men on base, Danville's Jack Morgan smashed a field home run to center to put his team up 4-0.

The Quote: "Up to this point, we'd scored 23 runs in two games,"Pleasanton manager Ed Ibanez said. "(Danville's pitcher) threw pretty hard and he had a good game, but we can hit those pitches."

What's next? With its loss, Pleasanton National drops into the loser's bracket, and will play Friday against Canyon Creek at Athan Downs at 5:30 p.m. Danville moves on to the finals of the winner's bracket to face either Tassajara National or Livermore American on Monday at Athan Downs 3 at 5:30.

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After the Pleasanton National 11-year-old all stars scored 23 runs in their first two games of the District 57 Tournament, few would have expected the team to struggle at the plate against Danville.

But with both of Danville's pitchers throwing at the top of their game, Pleasanton found themselves shut out on Thursday night, losing 4-0 in the winner's bracket semifinals.

Danville's starting pitcher, Darroch Koel, was the main source of trouble for Pleasanton's hitters. Koel gave up no walks and only two hits in his four and one third innings, while striking out five.

"(Koel) threw pretty hard, and he had a good game, but we can hit those pitches," said Pleasanton manager Ed Ibanez.

But Pleasanton struggled on and off all game to put the ball in play to create chances.

In the second, Pleasanton had an opportunity to be the first on the board, with two runners in scoring position. However, Koel's pitching proved too much for Pleasanton, with Brandon Zerio striking out to end the inning with the two runners left on base.

That was the only real chance that Pleasanton would get as it got one more baserunner the rest of the game.

"Darroch Koel had a very commanding performance," Danville manager Mark Dawson said. "He was hitting his spots very well throughout the game."

Dawson also commended relief pitcher Connor Redmond who closed out the final two innings for his team, striking out three of the final five hitters.

Pleasanton's pitching was not at the same caliber as Danville for much of the game.

"(Bradley Norton) had a little trouble today," Ibanez said. "He needs to mix up his pitches a little more."

In the third, Norton, who started for Pleasanton, gave up a walk and hit to set the stage for a three-run homer from Danville's Jack Morgan. Morgan also hit a double and scored in the second.

While Danville moves on to the finals of the winner's bracket, Pleasanton drops to the loser's bracket to play against Canyon Creek Friday at Athan Downs at 5:30pm.

Pleasanton still has a chance for success in the tournament, and according to Ibanez, the team knows what they need to do to get back on track.

"This is their third year together," he said. "They've got a job in front of them to do, and I think they'll be able to fight back."

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Pleasanton National 000 000 - 0 2 0

Danville 013 00X - 4 5 1

Danville (ab-r-h) Venezia 3-0-0, Bowman 2-0-0, Dawson 2-0-0, Koel 3-1-1, Morgan 3-2-2, Redmond 3-0-1, Lonestar 1-0-1, Bartnick 1-0-0, Batza 1-0-0, Facteau 1-1-0, Banks 1-0-0; Totals 21-4-5.

Pleasanton National (ab-r-h) Moroney 3-0-0, Chinn 3-0-0, Cowick 3-0-1, Norton 2-0-1, Myers 2-0-0, Godi 2-0-0, Torquemada 1-0-0, Zerio 1-0-0, Michael 1-0-0, Ibanez 1-0-0, Woosley 1-0-0; Totals 20-0-2.

Pitching

Danville: Koel 4.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K, 0 BB; Redmond 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 0 BB.

Pleasanton National: Norton 2.2 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 BB; Cowick 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 K, 2 BB.

Batting

2B Morgan (Danville); HR Morgan (Danville). RBI Lonestar (Danville), 3 Morgan (Danville).

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