There’s only one word that can describe the Serra Little League 10-year-old all-stars: Champions. The squad downed all comers in the District 44 All-Star Tournament, ending with a perfect record of 5-0.
Serra finished the tournament with a 5-2 win over Los Altos, and it was one of the closest battles of the tournament.
Los Altos got on the board eaerly, scoring a run in the top of the first inning.
Many 10-year-olds could have gotten down after allowing a run in the first, but not Serra. The ‘stars picked up their bats and rallied for three runs to grab the lead.
Malcolm Hsu, who was pitching for Serra, blasted a one-out single to center, Blake Rogers knocked a single and Gilbert Murillo smacked a hit to left that drove in both runners. Murillo moved to second on a Ryan Lee base hit and then scored when Matt Merino reached on a fielder’s choice.
In the bottom of the second Rogers crushed a ball off the wall for a two-run homer.
Los Altos scored in the fifth, and threatened again in the sixth with runners on first and second. Murillo broke the Los Altos spirits, though, when the batter knocked a line drive to center and he snagged the ball off one hop and fired it to third to force the advancing runner. Serra was able to finish the win without any more damage.
Hsu went four innings to the get mound win and Naoto Kataoka picked up the with a scoreless sixth inning. Hsu also led the club at the plate, going 3 for 3 and scoring twice.
After winning the District 44 tournament, Serra advanced to the Section 5 tournament held in Aptos. The winner of that tournament goes on to the Little League Northern California Championships.
Serra announced its presence in the district tourney with authority, crushing Sunnyvale Southern 11-1 in the opening game of the tournament. Devin James blasted an inside the park homer.
The second game in pool play really sealed the fact that Serra had what it took to go the distance. Serra trailed Santa Clara Homestead 9-1, but rallied for 11 unanswered runs. Lee went 3 for 3, blasting two doubles and driving in five runs.
Serra kept its offensive onslaught working in the third game of the tournament when it rolled over Moreland 12-2. Rogers smacked two doubles and drove in four runs. He also scored three times in the win.
After going 3-0 in pool play, Serra faced Westside in the semifinals and downed Westside 4-3 in a tight pitcher’s duel. Justin Walker tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing only one run, for his second win in the tournament.
Ryan Ohara and Roy Chang knocked the ball all over the yard and led a rally in the third inning that accounted for three of the four runs for Serra.
Hsu finished the District 44 tournament hitting .533, while Rogers and Lee crushed three doubles apiece. Rogers and Walker finished with two wins each on the mound and Kataoka had two saves.
The complete roster for the Serra 10-year-old all-star team includes Kataoka, James, Jacob Tang, Ohara, Matt Merino, Walker, Josh Willis, Roy Chang, Lee, Murillo, Hsu and Rogers.
