Headfirst-Bercovich uses huge rally in first to beat Napa Valley Baseball Club to win pool on final day of pool play in 4th of July tourament

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By Kyle Foster

Kfost91197@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews

Yountville-There are some days when you run into a better team, and this will happen when you play a lot of games over a season. There will be days where it’s just not your best day.   

On Saturday night at Cleve Borman Field, this was the case as Headfirst-Bercovich beat Napa Valley Baseball Club 19U, 9-5, on the final day of pool play at the 48th annual Bill Buckner Memorial 4th of July tournament. 

Bercovich began the game with a burst of offensive fireworks, which is fitting since it was on Independence Day. They scored five times, which gave them control of the game. 

Headfirst also scored another run in the third inning to extend the lead. 

However, Bercovich put the game away in the sixth, adding three more runs. Some would call it a grand finale of a fireworks show. 

Meanwhile, Napa Valley Baseball Club (11-6) didn’t go down without a fight. They immediately scored a pair of runs in the first. It all began when Parker Dahl walked and scored on a double to left-center by Peter Hurd, who was run for by Tysin Costella. A single by Wyatt Rohrs brought in Costella. 

NVBC also scored two more runs again in the second to further cut the deficit. Josh McCall and Dahl both walked, with Weis reaching on an error in between. A sacrifice fly to center by Abe Schweiky brought in McCall, and Weis was out at second. Then, Hurd ripped a triple down the right field line to score Dahl. 

“Super happy with the way they didn’t give up and fought back and got back into the game,” Napa

Valley Baseball Club head coach John Hurd explained. “Obviously, a lot of teams, they have an inning as rough as we did in the first, would probably fold. But these guys fought back and got back in the game. Super proud of them.”

Napa Valley Baseball Club scored another run in the sixth. It all began when Grant Huss walked and got to third on a Weis double. A Dahl groundout brought in Huss. 

Those leading the NVBC offense in the game were Hurd (2-for-3, double, triple, 2 RBIs), Weis (2-for-3, double), Rohrs (1-for-3, double, RBI), and Schweiky (1-for-3, stolen base, RBI).

Working the majority of the innings in bulk relief was Mautner. He logged 5 ⅔ frames where he walked 5 and struck out 3. He allowed just 2 hits and 4 runs to score, but only 3 were earned. 

This effort was what was needed to save the pitching staff for Sunday. 

“We had to bring him in a little earlier than we planned on,” Hurd explained. “But he came in, he pitched great, had good control, I mean, obviously, is a very good team there. They brought some talent just for us, I believe. And Sam pitched great; he did a very good job.”

The good news is that this game was for seeding purposes only on Sunday. Bercovich is the winner of Pool 1 and will face Pool 2 runner-up San Bruno VFW at 9:30 am on Sunday. 

As for NVBC, they are the Pool 1 runner-up and will face the Pool 2 winner California Rays in a rematch of last year’s championship game at 12:15 pm. The two winners of those games will meet in the championship game at 3 pm with the awards ceremony afterwards.  

“We’re not too disappointed that we’re playing the 12 o’clock game instead of the nine, especially after the Fourth of July,” Hurd added. “So we’re gonna come out tomorrow at noon, ready to play. Cal Rays is a very good organization as well. I’m sure it’d be a good game.”

Earlier games saw the California Rays beat San Bruno 9-7 to win the pool. St. Helena Red Devils and Orland Outlaws tied at 10. Then, Community Projects of Napa Cubs beat Willits Legion 8-2. 

Admission to the event is $7. You can get a tournament pass for $20. The speed limit on the Veteran’s Home property is 15 MPH.