July 9, 2008

No Cool Down For Bear River Majors in 17-1 Win

If there’s one thing hotter than the sweltering heat wave that has hit the foothills area this week it may be the Bear River major division All-Star team.

The south county 11-12-year-olds took a giant step towards the District 11 Area II championship by shrugging off Tuesday’s warm temperatures to pound out a convincing, 17-1, win over host Nevada City in a game played at Pioneer Park.

Bear River has now outscored its two Area II opponents by a combined 29-1 margin.

The action came one evening after Sunday’s winner’s bracket semi-final game had been postponed because of a power outage in the Nevada City area.

Showing no ill effects from the layoff, Bear River used Travis Anderson’s solo home run and three runs batted in and Zach Sween’s 3x3 game which included three more Bear River RBIs to shackle the hosts.

Also having a hand in the win at the plate were Jake Sypnicki who banged out a trio of his and scored three times and Steven Ertola who added a pair of raps.

Starting hurler Brandon Donley also starred as he kept the Nevada City offense in check with six strikeouts leading the way. Donley also found time to add a pair of hits to the attack and he too finished with three runs batted in.

Bear River now moves out to the winner’s bracket final round where the team will await the victor of today’s Penn Valley-Nevada City game which will be played at Pioneer Park starting at 7 p.m.

That survivor will meet Bear River at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the Area II marbles. Bear River has to be defeated twice to be eliminated as an “if necessary” game is scheduled for Friday, also at 7 p.m.

In Area I action on Tuesday, Rocklin outlasted Tri-City, 11-9, to emerge as that tournament’s lone undefeated team.

Tri-City plays Lincoln tonight with that winner having the chore of beating Rocklin twice for Area I honors. In an elimination game last night, Lincoln squeezed past Auburn, 9-8.