PETALUMA – In order to be the Northern California 10/11 All Stars champions, the team from Aptos needs to win three more games, but going into a single elimination semifinal on Wednesday at Lucchesi Park the boys from the Santa Cruz County coast are starting to be known as the 14-13 walk-off kids.
For the second time in a week, Aptos has won in the bottom of the sixth inning after a walk-off home run by Max Mendoza propelled the Section 5 champions to a 14-13 victory over Petaluma National on Tuesday night at Lucchesi Park.
Aptos trailed 13-10 to begin the bottom of the sixth and final frame in All Stars play, but after Owen Dueck and Seamus Carey got on base and Gabe Gaeckle struck out, Morgan Schaeffer stepped to the plate and hit the first pitch to straightaway centerfield and well over the 200-foot sign for a three run home run.
Petaluma National pitcher and star Garett Lewis struck out the next batter but then had the misfortune of giving up the home run to Mendoza.
Schaeffer finished 3-for-4 with three home runs, eight RBIs, three runs scored, and a sacrifice fly. Besides the three-run blast in the sixth inning Schaeffer also had a three-run home run in the second inning.
Last week, in the Section 5 championship game in Los Gatos, Schaeffer hit a three-run walk-off home run to lead Aptos to an identical 14-13 win over Union. In that game he finished 5-for-5 with the home run, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Mendoza, who was the Aptos starting pitcher against Petaluma, was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Lewis led Section 1 champion Petaluma National at the plate after going 5-for-5 with a home run, double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Aptos now moves on to face Woodcreek-Roseville on Wednesday in the elimination bracket semifinal at 6 p.m. at Lucchesi Park.
Woodcreek, who beat Aptos earlier in the double-elimination format, lost 10-0 to Canyon Creek-San Ramon.
Canyon Creek is now the only unbeaten team left in the NorCal championships. They rest on Wednesday and face the Aptos versus Canyon Creek winner on Thursday evening. If Canyon Creek loses that game a final championship game will be played Friday evening with all games at Lucchesi Park and hosted by District 35 and Petaluma American.
For the 10-11 year-olds the Northern California championships are the final stop. Unlike the older boys, there is no World Series for 10-11 All Stars.
For scores and the Northern California championships bracket go to: https://www.eteamz.com/llbcaliforniadistrict35/files/Copyof201510-11Division.pdf
