hooper's Shutout Keeps Mustangs Season Alive
John Hooper (above) lifted Monte Vista to the second round. Photo by Chris Jackson
By Chris Jackson Wednesday May 27, 2015
ALAMO, CA-A late scare wasn't enough to deter the East Bay Athletic League champion.
After two runners reached base on singles, a 4-6-3 double play ended the contest and the Monte Vista Mustangs
defeated the James Logan Colts, 2-0, advancing to the NCS Quarterfinals.
John Hooper's timely pitching did the trick and escaped the jam in the top of the seventh inning. Up 2-0, he surrendered
singles to Rogelio Reyes and Jordan Soto and put James Logan in prime position to even it up. Instead, Servando
Cardenas grounded into a double play to end its season in the first round of the postseason.
Hooper was a potent force on the mound all afternoon, not allowing a run to score and giving up six hits. He needed
just 79 pitches to cap off the complete game shutout and propel the three seed to the next round.
The Monte Vista offense only needed three hits to put two runs across. An RBI single from Ryan Marsh in the bottom of
the second made it 1-0 and the damage could've been much worse that inning. But a strikeout-pickoff double play ended
the inning and it wasn't able to muster another run for another hour.
Charles Zaloumis stole third and after Mike Ricupito was hit by a pitch, Zaloumis scored on a groundout to second from
Daniel Wilson and it was 2-0 in favor of the Mustangs.
Jordan Soto had the top all-around offensive efforts for either team. However, his two singles weren't enough for James
Logan to put across a run and possibly make the ending completely different.
James Logan pitcher Rogelio Reyes also tossed a complete game, but allowed two runs (one earned). Reyes also went
1-for-3 at the plate with a single.
For Monte Vista, the season lives on as it will host 11 seeded Clayton Valley Charter in the second round. Clayton Valley
is coming off an impressive victory at Heritage and will look to continue the success against one of Northern California's
top teams.
After two runners reached base on singles, a 4-6-3 double play ended the contest and the Monte Vista Mustangs
defeated the James Logan Colts, 2-0, advancing to the NCS Quarterfinals.
John Hooper's timely pitching did the trick and escaped the jam in the top of the seventh inning. Up 2-0, he surrendered
singles to Rogelio Reyes and Jordan Soto and put James Logan in prime position to even it up. Instead, Servando
Cardenas grounded into a double play to end its season in the first round of the postseason.
Hooper was a potent force on the mound all afternoon, not allowing a run to score and giving up six hits. He needed
just 79 pitches to cap off the complete game shutout and propel the three seed to the next round.
The Monte Vista offense only needed three hits to put two runs across. An RBI single from Ryan Marsh in the bottom of
the second made it 1-0 and the damage could've been much worse that inning. But a strikeout-pickoff double play ended
the inning and it wasn't able to muster another run for another hour.
Charles Zaloumis stole third and after Mike Ricupito was hit by a pitch, Zaloumis scored on a groundout to second from
Daniel Wilson and it was 2-0 in favor of the Mustangs.
Jordan Soto had the top all-around offensive efforts for either team. However, his two singles weren't enough for James
Logan to put across a run and possibly make the ending completely different.
James Logan pitcher Rogelio Reyes also tossed a complete game, but allowed two runs (one earned). Reyes also went
1-for-3 at the plate with a single.
For Monte Vista, the season lives on as it will host 11 seeded Clayton Valley Charter in the second round. Clayton Valley
is coming off an impressive victory at Heritage and will look to continue the success against one of Northern California's
top teams.
