On the same night of the MLB Home Run Derby, young Bode Hiatt put his power on display Monday at Hoover Tyler Little League in Stockton.
He swatted three home runs in the Section 6 Little League All-Star Tournament consolation semifinal, including the walk-off, two-run bomb that punctuated Manteca’s dramatic 5-3 win over Los Banos. The victory sets up a rematch Delta Sunrise of Stockton. They face off tonight at 5:30, and if Manteca wins they’ll play a winner-take-all on Wednesday.
Hiatt finished 4-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, hitting solo jacks in the first and fifth innings. His second blast put Manteca ahead, 3-2. Manteca had chances to widen the gap following Hiatt’s homer in the fifth but left the bases loaded.
Los Banos was able to tie it up in the top of the sixth after Manteca ace pitcher Brody Carabello reached his maximum pitch count. He struck out seven and gave up five hits and no walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Los Banos had two outs and one runner on when Carabello was relieved and capitalized on two hits and a walk for the equalizer. Victor Nuno got his team out of the jam, making a diving grab before getting the force out at third base.
Charles Rose helped set up Hiatt’s heroic hack, belting a one-out single to left in the bottom half of the sixth. Hiatt closed the show on the first pitch of the final at-bat. Rose knocked in Manteca’s first run of the game, hitting a sacrifice fly to place Carabello (lead-off single) in the opening inning. Hiatt then hit the first of his home runs to knot the score, 2-2.