PETALUMA — After two-straight win-or-go-home victories, The Aptos Little League 12 All Stars’ attempt to reach the Little League World Series ended with a 6-3 loss to Maidu Majors in the Elimination-bracket final of the NorCal Tournament.
Maidu handed Aptos both its losses, defeating them 4-3 in game two before sending them home after the second loss.
Aptos opened the NorCal Tournament with a 9-0 win over Los Banos. Pitchers Kiran Yager, Miles Lee, and Beau Pieracci combined for the shutout. Kiran dominated the first three innings before giving way to Miles and then Beau closed it out.
Miles, Kiran and Ryan Santillan each had two of Aptos’ 13 hits. Ryan and Ethan Crump both drove in two runs.
Game two was a tough loss, entering the bottom of the eighth in a 3-3 tie with Maidu before falling to a walk-off double.
Tysen Espinoza struggled at the start, giving up three runs on four hits over 2-1/3 innings. Miles pitched the bulk of the game, giving Aptos four shut-out innings of relief.
Kiran led the team at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Cody Pieracci added two hits.
Game three saw Aptos hold off a late charge by West Redding, surviving for a 6-5 victory in their first elimination game. Aptos built up a 5-1 lead in the first three innings, but gave it all back and entered the sixth tied at 5-5, where a wild pitch allowed the winning run to score.
Aptos had its own struggles, with a wild pitch and an error contributing to West Redding’s comeback. Cody and Patrick Collins pitched the bulk of the innings for Aptos, while in the batters box, single runs were driven in by Patrick, Miles, Nolan, and Kiran.
Game four saw Aptos pitted against the “home” team, Petaluma National. Kiran and Ryan combined for the team’s second shutout of the tournament in an 8-0 victory.
Kiran started and went 5-1/3, getting five strikeouts amidst three walks. He also was 3-for-3 at the plate, including a double. Nolan McGee added a double and 2 RBI early in the game.
Game five saw Maidu pull away from a 3-3 tie after Aptos rallied in the fourth inning.
Miles pitched all five innings for Aptos, giving up only two earned runs on five hits and striking out four. He also lead the team with two hits, while Hunter LaTorre drove in two.
Aptos Little Leauge 12 All Stars line up during the opening ceremonies of the Section 5 tournament.