Reckers tallies eight RBIs in Aptos' victory

Aptos' David Reckers swings and hits a home run in the second inning against Watsonville American on Thursday at Siltanen Park in Scotts Valley. (Glenn Cravens/Register-Pajaronian)

SCOTTS VALLEY — A flood on the field at Siltanen Park prevented the Watsonville American and Aptos Little League majors All-Star teams from starting their game on time.

Once they took the field, it became the David Reckers Show.

Reckers hit two home runs, including a game-ending grand slam, and Aptos defeated Watsonville American 15-2 on Thursday evening in the teams’ third game of the District 39 tournament.

With the win, Aptos, the defending champions, improved to 3-0. It will advance to next week’s knockout round. Its fate there won’t be determined until its divisional round finale on Saturday morning when it plays 3-0 Capitola-Soquel.

Reckers was only stopped one time in four at-bats. He was a part of a festive five-run first inning, as he hit a ground-rule double that just stayed inside the left-field foul pole. That brought home Timmy Harris, and Aptos had a 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, Harris reached on a fielder’s choice, and Forrest Hays singled, bringing up Reckers with one out.

Reckers sent a 2-2 pitch to centerfield, and he was trotting the bases seconds later with his first home run of the game as Aptos led 8-1.

Reckers was the final batter of the game, and he sent the Aptos faithful home happy, as he took a 2-1 pitch deeper than his first home run in centerfield. It plated Aiden McAnerney, Harris and Hays.

Reckers finished with eight RBIs, three runs scored, and 12 total bases touched.

“I was just trying to get a hit to bring in some runs,” Reckers said. “One I saw the pitches, I took it out. It just went out.”

Reckers said the second home run was his favorite of the two because he hadn’t hit a grand slam before.

“All I wanted to do was to help the team win the game,” he said.

Watsonville American got on the board in the top of the second inning. Nik Gera was hit by a pitch and then took second when Alex Gonzalez was also hit by a pitch. Gera went to third on a fielder’s choice.

Angel Chavez singled home Gera to cut Watsonville American’s deficit to 5-1.

In the third inning, Danny Martin hit a grounder to right field to get on base. Clay Galassi singled him over. Jason Garza then reached on a fielder’s choice, and Martin went to third.

With two outs, Gera hit a slow grounder that was booted by the Aptos shortstop, and Martin came home with Watsonville American’s second run of the game.

Jesus Medrano also hit a single for Watsonville American. James Flota reached base twice.

Both teams have one game remaining in divisional play. Watsonville American faces Santa Cruz American on Sunday afternoon.



For the complete article see the 06-30-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 06-30-2012 paper.

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