Morgan Hill's Mark Quinby slides safely into third under a high throw during Tuesday's game against Toro Park. Quinby homered and went 2 for 4. (PHOTO BY JAYNE PORRAS.)
MONTEREY -- The mantra of scores getting closer as the season goes on has not sunk in yet for the Morgan Hill Bronco All-Stars.
Even on baseball's biggest stage, the undefeated California Regional champions powered their way to another big win Tuesday night, beating Toro Park of Salinas 7-1 in the first round of pool play at the Bronco World Series.
Winners of nine straight -- each by an average of 9.5 runs -- Morgan Hill is two victories away from advancing to the four-team championship tournament.
"We got the first win out of the way, and that's huge," Morgan Hill coach Mike Zanotto said. "You can't have a loser's mindset after the first day. It can be crushing.
"We were the last game of the day; we were at the park for six hours, so we had a combination of being tired and nervous. But we played through it."
The weary local nine had to sit through opening ceremonies and two others games at Jack's Park in Monterey before taking the field. Their fatigue was compounded by a nasty flu bug that has frequented the lineup. Although lackluster at times, they still put on a show for the large crowd that included several hundred Morgan Hill fans.
"Once we started driving the ball, we woke up," Zanotto said.
Much of Morgan Hill's success has weighed on the team's power-packed hitting, and, while that was key again Tuesday, so was the team's leather.
Shortstop Ben Hughes provided two clutch outs on back-to-back highlights with runners on base in the third inning. The first happened after Hughes rushed the plate to defend a bunt attempt. The batter pulled back, though, and blooped a pop fly that Hughes made a diving over-the-shoulder catch for at the wall in foul territory.
"Imagine that: Ben running in one direction, then changing direction on the fly and making that kind of catch," Zanotto said. "That was amazing."
The next at-bat started the same, as the batter squared around for the pitch from Alejandro Torres but did not make contact. With third base vacated on the bunt attempt, the runner at second took off.
Hughes broke for third and was just in time to snag catcher Sam Aptekar's throw and make the tag, retiring the side.
"Those were two very big plays by Benny," Zanotto said.
Hughes also scored twice and was 2-for-2 batting with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Teammate Mark Quinby crossed home twice and went 2 for 4 with four RBIs; he drove in three of those on a blast to left-center field that put the game out of reach.
"That was majestic," Zanotto said. "There must have been a thousand people at the game and they were 'ooing' and ahhing.' "
Against Quinby, who pitched the final two innings, Toro Park scored on an error in the seventh.
Ethan Cox finished 2 for 3, Pat Muller collected a run and two singles and Josh Alaniz doubled for Morgan Hill, which totaled nine hits.
That paved the way for an impressive -- and economical -- performance by Torres, who needed less than 70 pitches to eat up five innings. Showing great command of his knuckleball and sinker, the left-hander included countless groundouts and struck out three.
Just as important, Torres allowed his team to rest Quinby and Mike Porras, who likely will pitch the next two games. Morgan Hill is scheduled to play West Zone champion Simi Valley at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Joliet (Ill.) Saturday. Morgan Hill will wrap up Green Division play Sunday against Tai-Yuan Elementary School of Tapei, Taiwan.
The top two finishers in the five-team Green and White divisions will play for a world title.
But first, Simi Valley.
"Now we play, arguably, the best team in our division. This is our Bel Passi moment," Zanotto said, likening the matchup to Morgan Hill's regional showdowns with Modesto powerhouse Bel Passi. "We have to win that day. We're going to do whatever we can. If they beat us with Quinby and Porras, beat the two horses, we'll just have to tip our cap."
So far, no team has come close to tipping Morgan Hill.
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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