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Northgate Mets have their way with Tracy A’s
Northgate Minors TOC
Northgate’s Jaxson Smith scores on Tracy’s Ethan Martinez. - photo by Dave Campbell

 Northgate Little League leadoff batter Tristan O’Brien ripped the first pitch of the game for a double, and the Mets never looked back in a 13-3 quarterfinal win over the Tracy A’s in the District 67 Minor League Tournament of Champions at Lincoln Park Field 2.

Northgate led 8-0 after two innings behind four hits and four Tracy errors. O’Brien (4-4, two doubles, three runs) doubled and scored in both the first and second innings. Easton Allen (RBI, three runs) and Jaxson Smith (RBI, three runs) scored on an error off the bat of Dylan Quinton (three RBI, double, run), and Hunter Reynolds drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Quinton to end the first inning after five runs were scored.

Quinton hit a ground-rule double in the fourth inning to score Grant Adams and also in the fourth Allen legged out an infield single to plate O’Brien. Jase O’Brien scored one run and knocked in two while Jaxson Smith (RBI) scored three runs and Cameron Cauthorn two.

The A’s did not get a hit until the sixth inning. Adams started on the mound for the Mets and threw three innings, striking out six and allowing no hits with three walks and a hit batter. Tracy scored one run in the second inning and two more in the third, all on throwing errors.

Northgate faces the Ripon Royals in the semifinal game Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and this afternoon at 5:30 Tracy plays the Manteca Braves in an elimination contest.


Ripon Royals 5, Salida 1

Gavin Cloward pitched 3.1 strong innings of relief for the Royals.

Cloward struck out six and allowed no hits and no runs. Carlos Blanco started on the mound for Ripon, pitching 2.1 innings with one hit and one run. Logan Kootstra closed out the game, getting the final out.

The Royals scored four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Kootstra hit a two-RBI single in the frame for the Royals, and Bo Brayton (two stolen bases) added an RBI single, scoring on a passed ball.

Ripon and Northgate square off in the semifinal game Thursday afternoon at 5:30, and today at 5:30 p.m., Salida plays Spreckels Park in a consolation game.