Little League All Stars: Danville 11s Dominant in Win Against Pleasanton National

The Star: Danville's starting pitcher, Darroch Koel, threw 64 pitches in 4 1/3 innings and allowed two hits. Koel gave up no runs to a Pleasanton National team which had scored 23 runs in its two previous games.

The Turning Point: In the bottom of the third, Pleasanton was still very much in the game, trailing Danville by only one run. But with two outs and two men on base, Danville's Jack Morgan smashed a home run to center put his team up 4-0.

The Quote: "I thought the boys were as loose today as when the tournament started," Danville coach Mark Dawson said. "We knew Pleasanton is an amazing team, so we just wanted the boys to come out loose and ready for this game. And they did that."

What's next? With its loss, Pleasanton National drops into the loser's bracket, and will play Friday against Canyon Creek at Athan Downs at 5:30. Danville moves on to the finals of the winner's bracket to face either Tassajara National — which beat Livermore American — on Monday at Athan Downs 3 at 5:30.

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The Danville 11-year-old all stars knew they needed success on the mound to defeat the Pleasanton National all star team which had scored 23 runs in its previous two games.

Outstanding pitching, matched with clutch hits, gave Danville the edge to shut out Pleasanton 4-0 in the semifinals of the District 57 Tournament winner's bracket on Thursday.

Danville's starting pitcher Darroch Koel was the main source of trouble for Pleasanton's hitters. Koel gave up no walks and two hits in his four and one-third innings, while striking out five.

"Darroch Koel had a very commanding performance," said Danville manager Mark Dawson. "He was hitting his spots very well throughout the game."

Koel showed tremendous composure while on the mound, his strikeouts to finish the second and fourth innings both came with runners in scoring position.

Dawson also commended pitcher Connor Redmond who relieved Koel in the fifth. Redmond struckout three of the five batters he faced in the final two innings of the game and allowed no hits.

In the bottom of the third with two outs and two runners on base, Jack Morgan smashed a homer to center to put his team up 4-0. Morgan also doubled in the second and came in to score off an RBI single from Chris Lonestar.

James Cowick, who relieved Norton at the end of the third, proved more challenging for Danville hitters. He earned four strikeouts and gave up one hit, but the damage was already done.

Dawson said his players came into the game very relaxed and were able to do what was necessary for the win.

"I thought the boys were as loose today as when the tournament started," he said. "We knew Pleasanton is an amazing team, so we just wanted the boys to come out loose and ready for this game. And they did that"

Danville will need a similar performance in its next game against a talented Tassajara National team on Monday at 5:30 in the winner's bracket finale.

"I think the boys had a very good showing today," Dawson said. "They're starting to realize that this is more than a baseball team. This is a family."

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Danville 013 00X - 4 5 1
Pleasanton National 000 000 - 0 2 0

Danville (ab-r-h) Venezia 3-0-0, Bowman 2-0-0, Dawson 2-0-0, Koel 3-1-1, Morgan 3-2-2, Redmond 3-0-1, Lonestar 1-0-1, Bartnick 1-0-0, Batza 1-0-0, Facteau 1-1-0, Banks 1-0-0; Totals 21-4-5.

Pleasanton National (ab-r-h) Moroney 3-0-0, Chinn 3-0-0, Cowick 3-0-1, Norton 2-0-1, Myers 2-0-0, Godi 2-0-0, Torquemada 1-0-0, Zerio 1-0-0, Michael 1-0-0, Ibanez 1-0-0, Woosley 1-0-0; Totals 20-0-2.

Pitching

Danville: Koel 4.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K, 0 BB; Redmond 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K, 0 BB.

Pleasanton National: Norton 2.2 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 K, 2 BB; Cowick 2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 K, 2 BB.

Batting

2B Morgan (Danville); HR Morgan (Danville). RBI Lonestar (Danville), 3 Morgan (Danville).

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