Clark, Hays power local teams in TOCs

SANTA CRUZ — The pitching performances of Tyler Clark and Forrest Hays helped their teams win in the opening round of the Little League District 39 Tournament of Champions on Sunday at Harvey West Park.

Hays was first on the hot day.

He struck out nine and allowed three hits in three innings as the Aptos Marlins defeated the Watsonville American Yankees 9-0.

He threw 42 strikes, and every out he recorded in the three innings was a strikeout. Eight of the nine sit-downs were of the swinging variety.

He ran into trouble in the third inning, as the Yankees loaded up the bases with nobody out; Clay Galassi reached on an error, while Gio Gonzalez and Jason Garza hit screaming singles.

However, Hays notched three strikeouts to end the threat.

In the final game of the day, Clark tallied 12 strikeouts and went 2 for 4 as the Pajaro Valley Padres beat the Capitola-Soquel Giants 4-1.

Clark was dealing in a game that seemed to go at a blazing rate of speed.

But after the Padres couldn't cash in with two runners on in the fifth inning, the game nearly came to a screeching halt.

Clark battled through multiple jams in the first five innings but was only tagged just once.

For the complete article see the 06-12-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 06-12-2012 paper.

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