Offenses flourish in first week of City Championship tournament
Offense was the word of the day during the first week of the Palo Alto Little League City Championship tournament. Winning teams scored in double digits of each game in the first and second rounds.
Palo Alto Wealth Advisors (PAWA) beat top-seed Bevy by a 13-7 score—but it took three extra innings! Behind the pitching of Paxton Liu, Bevy went into the sixth inning with a 4-1 lead. Liu, however, reached the Little League pitch limit in the sixth, and Bevy exploded for four runs off Bevy’s relievers, going up 5-4. The big blow was a two-run homer by Rafael Ballagas. Bevy tied it in the bottom of the sixth, sending the game into extras. PAWA scored seven runs in the top of the ninth, dooming Bevy. PAWA’s twenty-hit attack was led by Nate Signorello-Katz who had four hits.
In the other winners’ bracket semifinal, Cal Preserving knocked off Bike Connection 15-0. Harrison Murkins pitched a shutout in the game that was shortened by Little League’s 15-run rule.
The second week of the tournament starts with two doubleheaders on Saturday, May 13, at Middlefield Ballpark. PCL games start at 10:00 a.m., and Majors games start at 4:00 p.m.
PAWA and Cal Preserving will face off on Monday night at 6:30 to determine the winners’ bracket champ and earn a spot in the City Championship game.