Hollister American and Hollister National usually meet up at least once in the District 9 All-Star Tournament. Last year, the two teams met up twice, including in the first round, seen above. American won that game, 9-5.
Almost as if there is a magnetic force bringing the two teams together, Hollister American and Hollister National seem to meet up at least once in the District 9 All-Star Tournament every year.
Last year it actually happened twice in the 11- and 12-year-old bracket, with American defeating National in the first round 9-5 and later again in the championship final, 5-0. But while a date with an in-town rival may be expected, it won't come as early as it did last season when the two teams met in the opening game, leaving the victor with a manageable four games to the title, the defeated with a difficult seven-game stretch through the elimination bracket.
"It's a good thing for both of us," American manager Robert Fabing said. "Last year we were able to beat Hollister National and they came all the way back in the losers bracket, which I knew they would.
"But we need to take care of our business, our first three games. We don't look past anybody."
Starting with Salinas American on Friday at Salinas Atlantic (first pitch is 5:30 p.m.), Hollister American will look to pick up where it left off in the District 9 tournament. The defending champs marched all the way to the Section 5 All-Star Tournament last year before running into the buzzsaw that was flamethrowing pitcher Garrett Ciuk of Santa Clara Briarwood.
"We're all determined to win this year because this team hasn't won a district title yet," said Hollister American's Conner Starke.
And teammate Connor Fabing said American held double-day practices for five days in order to prove as much, with the team having nearly three weeks of practice time to plan and prepare for its D-9 opener with Salinas American, the winner of which will advance to Sunday's second round against Salinas Ferrasci.
"I'm very happy with what stage we're at right now," Robert Fabing said.
"We've had very competitive practices and they're just a good, hard-working group of kids."
Fabing feels his team is solid in all three phases - offense, defense and pitching - to go up against top D-9 teams like Soledad, Continental and, of course, Hollister National.
The two teams are on opposite sides of the bracket this year, and barring any setbacks would meet up on July 9 in the quarterfinals, which seems to be a-okay for all parties involved.
"We can build our confidence and figure out weaknesses and strengths," Nationals pitcher Hunter Haworth said.
Teammate Andrew Breen pointed out, though, pitching may just be Hollister National's strong suit. Armed with as many as eight hurlers, the boys in blue can plug in just about anyone on the team and not see a tremendous dropoff in between pitchers, Nationals manager Mark Haworth said.
"That's gonna be our biggest advantage, the pitching," Haworth added. "Any kid at any time gets in trouble, we have another kid to fall back on.
"All around I think these kids will pick each other up. They're friends and I think that will help us out a lot. They're more relaxed and there is nothing to prove to anyone else."
National will open with Greenfield Friday at Salinas Hartnell. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.
Hollister Little League All-Stars
District 9 All-Star Tournament
Junior League
Dylan Ito, Cody Freitas, Michael Breen, Angel Pasillas Jr., Richie Beltran, Craig Slibsager, Jacob Tonascia, Daniel Gonzales, Cody Cameron, Josh George, Jordan Lopes, Robert Soto and Christopher Manderson. Manager Todd Freitas. Coaches Rod George and Scott Ito.
Next: Hollister defeated Gonzales 11-1 on Monday night to open the District 9 Junior League All-Star Tournament at Salinas' Muni Stadium. Hollister advances to Wednesday's second round against Salinas Ferrasci. First pitch is 7:30 p.m., at Salinas' Muni Stadium.
Hollister American 11-12
Junior Rodriguez, Zack Moeller, Conner Starke, Tony Amaral, Justin Goodwin, Cameron Brann, Conner Fabing, Troy Ocampo, Enrique Rodriguez, Alex Garcia, Josh Tonascia and Michael Marler. Manager Robert Fabing.
Next: Hollister American will play Salinas American Friday at Salinas Atlantic at 5:30 p.m.
Hollister National 11-12
John Batelle, Tyler Biersdorff, Andrew Breen, Brandon Granger, Hunter Haworth, Thomas Hernandez, Garret Kelly, Riley Lange, Gregory Moreno, Austin Ryder, Andrew Sotelo, Joe Telles and Jacob Trujillo. Manager Mark Haworth. Coaches Adam Breen and Mike Martinez.
Next: Hollister National will play Greenfield Friday at Salinas Hartnell at 5:30 p.m.
Hollister American 10-11
Kyle Cameron, Joe Coffelt, Matthew Gastello, Adam Gonzales, Josh Nehme, Vinnie Parker, Jacob Penzo, Macen Schwehr, Sage Valenzuela, David Werolin, James Will, Mason Click and Sean Moakler. Manger CR Gonzales.
Next: Hollister American will play Salinas Ferrasci Wednesday at Salinas Atlantic at 5:30 p.m.
Hollister National 10-11
Landen Alexander, John M. Barrientos, Austin Cascio, Elijah Changco, Ulysses Diaz, Ian Dobbs, Russell Enz, Christopher Green, Gabriel Hernandez, Daniel Hopkins, Ryan Medrano, Joel Ramos and Brandon Seanez. Manager Larry Cascio.
Next: Hollister National defeated Salinas Atlantic 15-0 on Sunday to advance to Wednesday's second round against Gonzales. First pitch is 5:30 p.m., at Salinas Hartnell.
Hollister American 9-10 A
Diego Fisher, Jake Ito, Tyler Grimes, AJ Borges, Alex Soto, Sam Vincencio, Dominic Johnson, Tim Manderson, Nate Fhurong, Marcos Flores, Hunter Nye, Derek Moeller and Matt Hill. Manager Frank Soto.
Next: Hollister American A defeated Salinas Hartnell 13-2 on Sunday to advance to Tuesday's second round against Salinas American. First pitch is 5:30 p.m., at Gonzales.
Hollister American 9-10 B
Cade Neece, Dalton Neece, Kyle Stevenson, Brandon Moakler, Eugene McBride, Marcus Kelly, Brett Gines, Robert Gaspar, Marco Gaitan, Francisco Canizulas, Teddy Bueno and Derek Alvarez. Manager Ruben Gaitan.
Next: Hollister American B lost to Soledad 7-5 on Saturday and moved to the elimination bracket, where it faced Hollister National B on Monday night.
Hollister National B defeated Hollister American B 8-7, eliminating American from the District 9 tournament.
Hollister National 9-10 A
Garrett Bourdet, Isaiah Bueno, Davonte Butler, Nicholas Christian, Antonio Corral, Nicholas Lopez, Mason Marquez, Gehrig Mendez, Ryan Quinby, Jacob Ryder, Tyler Triano, Drew Williams and Joshua Zanger. Manager Dave Marquez.
Next: Hollister National A defeated Greenfield 29-6 on Saturday to advance to Tuesday's second round against Salinas Atlantic. First pitch is 5:30 p.m., at Ferrasci Park in Salinas.
Hollister National 9-10 B
Kale Jacob, Ryan Jameson, Nathan Vandemark, Mario Canela, Frank Chavez, Vincent Chavez, Ty Dailey, Dyllan Greig, Joshua R. Harris, Louis Huntley, Eddie Moran, Travis Roy and Tanner Wiggins. Manager John Barrera.
Next: Hollister National B lost to Salinas Ferrasci 7-3 on Saturday and moved to the elimination bracket, where it faced Hollister American B on Monday night.
National B managed to advance past American B by an 8-7 margin, eliminating American. National will now play on Wednesday at Salinas American against the loser between Ferrasci and Soledad. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.
Hollister American 8-9
Tyler Benedetti, Joseph Dimaggio, Andrue Valles, Sean Nelson, Nicholas Thomas, Matt Campo, Santiago Cavasos, Cade Fhurong, Nathan Morioka, Troy Rodriguez, Jared Moeller, Slade Wilson and Joseph Sullivan. Manager Steve Sullivan.
Hollister National 8-9
Nathaniel Garcia, Ben Zanger, Zach Livingston, Ryan Platero, Javier Valdez, Dawson, Biersdorff, Matt Harris, Anthony Rodriguez, Giovanni Gionnotta, Josiah Werolin, Anthony Bernal and Joshua Jennings. Manager Chuck Zanger.
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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