Capitola-Soquel takes out Aptos in divisional finale

Capitola-Soquel's Ryan Murtha slides in safely during the team's game against Aptos on Saturday at Siltanen Park in Scotts Valley. (Glenn Cravens/Register-Pajaronian)

SCOTTS VALLEY — Capitola-Soquel’s All-Star majors squad is still flawless in the District 39 Little League tournament.

Ryan Murtha went 2 for 2, including a home run that gave the team the lead for good, and Capitola-Soquel prevailed 5-3 over Aptos on Saturday at Siltanen Park.

Capitola-Soquel improved to 4-0 in its divisional round finale and will take one of the top seeds in the knockout round, scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Aptos slipped to 3-1 in divisional play. Despite the loss, the boys in blue will still advance to the next round.

Capitola-Soquel grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Nolan Maas reached on a fielder’s choice.

Murtha came up to bat and took a ball to start. The lefty then hit a deep flyball that kissed past the left-field foul pole for a home run, giving Capitola-Soquel a 3-1 advantage.

“I went up there thinking line drive,” Murtha said. “Good things happen when you hit the ball.”

He said he was surprised it went out because, to him, it looked like the ball was going to drop at the fence.

Daniel Glenn then worked a walk and got all the way to third on an Otis Allen walk and a wild pitch. Drew Schumacher hit a grounder that looked to be an out, but an Aptos infielder botched it, allowing Glenn to come home with Capitola-Soquel’s third run of the inning.

Capitola-Soquel went up 5-1 when Jake Jacquard worked a walk, took second on a wild pitch, went to third on a Maas grounder and scored on a Murtha single.

Aptos mustered one final rally.

David Reckers walked to start the inning and took third on two wild pitches. J.T. Vallet then hit a single to bring him home.

After Vallet was erased on a grounder, Aptos loaded the bases when Curtis McMullen hit a grounder that was booted by the Capitola-Soquel first baseman. The ball went out of play, allowing Reckers and Anson Lewis to score.

Aptos took the first lead of the game.

Devon Daich hit a single to start the top of the second inning. He took second on a grounder and then scored on a Joe Fugate single to centerfield.

Capitola-Soquel answered back in the bottom of the inning when Schumacher scored on a Nate Zeise double.

Murtha said he was nervous when Aptos scored in the final inning. With the team getting through the challenge, he said he’s looking forward to playing in the knockout round.

“I’ve never experienced the next round,” he said. “The team has worked hard to get here.”



For the complete article see the 07-03-2012 issue.

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