MNLL falls in state opener
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera National’s Joel Arellano drove in three runs with two hits in a 9-7 state tournament-opening loss to Sunnyvale on Sunday in Castro Valley.
The Madera National Little League 10-12-year-old All-Star team couldn’t overcome a three-run first inning by Section 5 champion Sunnyvale in a 9-7 loss on the second day of the Northern California State All-Star Tournament in Castro Valley.
Sunnyvale scored in every inning to secure the two-run victory Sunday and sent Madera National into the loser’s bracket. Madera National got a day break and played Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Madera National got a three RBI day out of Joel Arellano and Isaiah Sanchez also drove in a pair of runs. Josh McKeever reached base three times and scored two runs.
Jadian Chavira, Brenton Bohm, Mark Huarte and Eli Sablan also scored runs. Trevor Teran added a double and Paul Stroemer hit an RBI single.
Huarte suffered the loss on the mound by allowing five runs, four earned on six hits.
McKeever led off the game by drawing a walk. He went to second on a Sanchez groundout and scored on an Arellano double for the early lead.
However, Sunnyvale took advantage of a one-out error and a walk to put runners on base. After a popout, Sunnyvale singled home a run, but a wild pitch strikeout loaded the bases for a two-run, two-out single for a 3-1 lead.
Sunnyvale added another run in the second on a solo home run with two outs to open a 4-1 lead.
Madera National cut the lead by one when Sanchez led off the third with a double and scored on Stroemer’s single.
Another home run in the bottom of the third by Sunnyvale opened a three-run lead, again.
Madera National battled back to tie the score in the top of the fourth inning. Chavira led off with a single. Bohm walked and Huarte walked to load the bases.
McKeever singled home Chavira and Sanchez reached on an error to drive in Bohm. After a pair of strikeouts, Teran walked to force in Huarte with the game-tying run.
However, Sunnyvale scored three runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth on a single, an error, a hit batter, walk and two fielder’s choices for an 8-5 lead.
Madera National cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth. Sablan led off the inning with a walk. After the next two batters were retired, McKeever drew a walk. Sanchez drove in Sablan with a single and Arellano followed with another run-scoring single to cut the lead to 8-7.
Sunnyvale added another run in the sixth with a double and two singles for the 9-7 lead.
Madera National loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Blake Burton was hit by a pitch with one out. Sablan drew a walk. After a groundout moved runners to second and third, Aiden Ramirez drew a walk to load the bases.
However, a groundout back to the pitcher ended the game for the 9-7 Sunnyvale victory.
