Bear River Giants, Red Sox
Flex muscles in TOC victories
Andrew Reiss of the Bear River Red Sox fires a pitch during Friday night's District 11 Little League Tournament of Champions action at Bear River Little League Park. The Red Sox topped the Sierra Foothills Angels, 8-3, to advance to a second round game tonight at 7;30 p.m. against the Sierra Foothills Giants. See story for details.
The Bear River Giants and Red Sox proved to be rude hosts Friday in the District 11 Little League major division Tournament of Champions.
Hosting Area II play at their Bear River Little League Park, the Giants blasted the Penn Valley White Sox, 10-0 in Friday’s nightcap after the Red Sox looked impressive in the night’s opener by putting away the Sierra Foothills Angels by an 8-3 count.
The two wins by the Bear River squads advance both teams in the single elimination type tournament. The Red Sox will play the Sierra Foothills Giants in a semi-final game tonight at 7:30 p.m. while the Giants receive a couple of days off and will not play again until the semi-finals on Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
In another winner’s bracket game today, the Grass Valley Angels and the Nevada City Red Sox will play at 5 p.m. with the winner taking a shot on Monday at the Bear River Giants.
Here’s a recap of Friday’s action
Bear River Giants 10 Penn Valley White Sox 0
A big six-run first inning keyed the Giants who had their hitting togs on Friday night.
Led by David Keaton - who went 3x3 with a triple and two RBIs - Tyler Toft’s double and and an ensuing triple by Josh Toft, the Giants struck hard and fast on their Penn Valley opponents and never let the White Sox into the game.
The Giants, who went 19-2 overall on the season in winning the Bear River title, also had a two hit night from Mike Raigoza and RBI singles by Justin Brown and Mac Slane.
Kyle Soria and Chris Lopez also added base hits to the winning attack.
Keaton pitched a superb game for the Giants as he allowed just two hits in the four-inning game. He fanned four batters and walked just one.
The Giants were also credited by manager James Toft for playing an outstanding game on defense with their errorless glove work behind Keaton being a vital part of the triumph.
Penn Valley, which had opened with an impressive win over the Grass Valley A’s on Wednesday, picked up singles from Roland Pussich and John Swanton.
Bear River Red Sox 8 SFLL Angels 3
Three runs in the first and third innings enabled the Bear River Red Sox to build an early lead which in turn led to an eventual 8-3 win over the Sierra Foothills Angels, the Colfax area league’s No. 1 team.
With starting pitcher Andrew Reiss’ fastball keeping the Angels in check through the early frames, the Sox broke away from a 3-2 lead with a three-run third inning.
Robert Bristol’s double followed by RBI singles from Steve Ertola and Jake DePass and two Angels passed balls ignited the Red Sox’s third inning uprising.
Reiss pitched the first three frames for the Red Sox and recorded seven strikeouts before being relieved by Bristol.
The Angels were led by Taylor Dorsey who stroked a double, relief hurler Ryan Glazner who fanned five batters in two innings of work and centerfielder David Ballowe who made a fine diving catch that he turned into a double play.