Justin-Siena’s third, sixth inning rallies key in victory over Napa
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
It had been only been two seasons since the Napa and Justin-Siena baseball teams had played each other.
But, in the all-Napa matchup it was Justin-Siena who got the 6-3 victory.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, but Justin-Siena (6-4 overall, 1-1 Vine Valley Athletic League) was able to seal the game in the top of the sixth when Will Natuzzi singled home Nolan Dunkle and Noah Young who had both walked.
“It felt great,” Natuzzi said of his key hit. “I just wanted to put the ball in play. I just wanted to get the runners in and do my job.”
However, the first run of the game was scored by the Grizzlies (0-12, 0-4 VVAL). In the bottom of the second a two-out single by Lucas Brandon brought home Cole Kipsey who singled a few at bats before.
The Braves were able to push across three runs in the top of the third, which gave them their initial lead. It all started when Natuzzi walked and then scored on Luigi Albano-Dito’s double. Maxx Castellucci then reached on a error, which brought in Albano Dito. Nolan Dunkle then reached on another error to plate Castellucci.
Justin-Siena also pushed a run across in the top of the fifth. After reaching on an error Alex Kirley came home when Castellucci hit into a fielder’s choice.
The Grizzlies had their best offensive output in the bottom of the sixth. Trent Maher led off the inning by reaching on an error, before coming home on a Dylan Foster double into the left-center gap. Foster later scored when Calvin Snider singled.
“That sixth inning showed a little bit of life,” Napa coach Jason Chatham said of a somewhat positive offensive output in the sixth. “We had a guy on second and third with one out and I think we had two young at-bats at that point in guys that are really competitive that hit the ball well. I think the next time they get an opportunity they’re going to drive those guys in.”
Kirley got the win for Justin-Siena. Over four innings of work he struck out five and walked one, all while throwing 75 pitches. He only gave up one run, before finding his groove in the game.
“I was just finding my timing with my release slot, as well as just being cohesive on the mound and spotting up,” Kirley said of his outing. “I think it was definitely a good start.”
“Alex did a tremendous job for us today,” Justin-Siena coach Jeremy Tayson added. “We’ve got three games next week, so basically four games in eight days. We were looking to get some length out of him, normally he’s a reliever. But he gave us 4-plus today, or something like that and he did a job.”
Nick Andrews was able to record the save over 1 and ⅔ innings of work.
Omar Gonzalez took the loss for Napa. He went 5 and ⅓ innings, he struck out four and walked four, all while throwing 95 pitches. He also allowed six runs to score, but only two of them were earned.
“He did do a good job,” Chatham said of his junior starter. “Omar has three pitches and he throws them all for a strike and he did do a good job of keeping guys off-balance. That’s who Omar is.”
Justin-Siena will be back in action on Monday when they visit Casa Grande-Petaluma at 4 p.m. Napa, meanwhile, won’t be back in action again till Wednesday when they visit their crosstown rival Vintage at 4 p.m.
