Small ball leads to key fourth inning rally to lead Justin-Siena past Vintage in series finale
By Kyle Foster
Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
There are going to be some days when you have to get runs across, and it’s not going to be flashy or easy. This is the case when you use some small ball to get the job done.
In Thursday afternoon’s Vine Valley Athletic League series finale, this is what Justin-Siena did as they beat Vintage, 6-0, in a game played at Braves Ballpark.
The Braves (14-4 overall, 5-1 VVAL) scored all of the game thanks to some small ball in the fourth inning. By using the small ball to get the lead, Justin-Siena showed how well-rounded their offense is, after also showing the ability to hit the ball all over the park if needed too.
“That’s a testament to our coaching staff,” Justin-Siena head coach Jeremy Tayson pointed out of the small ball his squad used to score in the fourth. “(Assistant coach) BJ Pratt is a real big proponent of making sure that we’re able to win any style of baseball game, high scoring, low scoring, anything in between. So there’s his ability to put us in those positions. We work a lot on it, and the guys have really invested and bought in. When you’re in tight ball games, you got to figure out how to get run and put pressure on the team. The base hits aren’t always falling like you want. We hit the ball really hard today, but didn’t always get something to show for it. So you need another tool in the toolbox.”
It all started when Xiano Ortega doubled into the left-center gap and Henry Meyers walked. Then, Nelson laid down a bunt and reached on an error. On that same error, the throw went down the right field line to allow Ortega and Meyers to score and Nelson to get to second. Braden Butler’s bunt single sent Nelson to third, and Peter Trovich was hit by a pitch to load the bases. When Tommy Malloy reached on an error, Nelson scored. A Drew Sangiacomo single brought in Butler and Trovich. The last run came when Jake Fletcher singled to bring in Malloy.
“We saw Tuesday, they had a little bit of trouble with our bunts there, and I knew I had to get the job done when I got the sign and it led a fire under our butts today,” Nelson said of his key bunt that brought home the game’s first run. “We just were hot from there, barrel after barrel.”
Others helping out the Justin-Siena offensive effort in the game were Sangiacomo (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Fletcher (2-for-4, RBI), Butler (1-for-2, stolen base), Nelson (1-for-3, double, run scored), and Ortega (1-for-3, double).
As for the Crushers (8-8, 3-4 VVAL), they had a few chances to score in the game but couldn’t get a key hit to get on the board. In the game, they were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Vintage had a chance to score in the first when Blake Porter doubled to right-center. On John Bullock’s flyout to right field, Porter tagged up to third to be the closest to scoring in the game. The inning ended on a Sam Mauntner groundout.
In the fourth, Dario Freschi walked and got to second on a single by Porter. But since there were two outs, the inning ended on a fielder’s choice.
“We’re looking (for) velocity,” Vintage head coach Billy Smith said of what they were looking for at the plate. “They try to keep us off balance, fast and soft.”
Those helping with the Crushers’ offensive attack in the game were Porter (2-for-4, double), Riley Marek (1-for-2, walk), Bullock (1-for-3), Stevano Snider (1-for-1), and James Neidhoefer (1-for-1).
Nelson was dominant on the bump for Justin-Siena as he threw a complete game shutout, striking out 4 and walking 2 while scattering 6 hits. The senior right-hander also threw 91 pitches in the game to get his 3rd winning decision of the season.
“I saw a lot of poise and confidence,” Tayson said of Nelson’s work on the mound. “They got a couple base hits. They had an opportunity to score early in the game. They obviously have a really good lineup there, not easy to navigate through, but by using some poise and confidence, he was able to go the distance.”
One of the reasons why Nelson was so in control in the game was that he was ahead in most counts. This helped him be in control all game.
“Coach Brandon Alves we had some great pitching sequences going today,” Nelson explained as to how he was able to work ahead in the count. “Just plans for the hitters all week. We prepared for it yesterday.”
Taking the loss in the game for Vintage was Soren DeYoung. The senior righty kept his team in the game in this tough assignment. He worked 3 innings, where he walked 2 and struck out 1. In 64 pitches, he gave up 5 runs, 4 of which were earned on 5 hits.
“He gave us what he had,” Smith explained of DeYoung’s ability to battle on the bump in the game. “Each inning, I think he got himself out of a big situation. He did what we asked, and we knew what he could do and proud of what he did.”
With the win, Justin-Siena swept the season series for the first time in the history of the teams’ meeting in VVAL play.
The win also helped the Braves keep pace in the very top-heavy VVAL.
“This is what you want, right?” Tayson said of the battle at the top of the league standings. “We tell our guys every time we’re in tight ball games (in) league, non league, whatever, this is what you play for. So, whether it’s going your way or not, this is why you play the game.”
Vintage will host Petaluma on Saturday at 2 pm in a makeup game from March 27th before hosting Windsor and Las Lomas next week, while on the league bye week.
As for Justin-Siena, they will visit Napa High on Tuesday at 4 pm.
In other VVAL games on Thursday, American Canyon beat Napa 8-6, and Casa Grande beat Sonoma Valley 3-0.
