With its postseason life on the line, Goleta Valley South’s 10-11 All-Stars rallied for two runs in the sixth inning, scored six more in the seventh and pitched out of bases-loaded jam to outlast Quartz Hill 18-16 in an elimination game at the Little League Divisional State Tournament Monday night in Ontario.
Kyle Gonzalez ended the wild game by getting the final Quartz Hill batter to line out to right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
Blake Katsev continued his hot hitting in the tournament, going 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, double and three runs scored. Ryan Guardino went 2-3 with a double and three runs scored and Josh Feldhaus belted a three-run homer and had a single, and Sam Roberts collected two hits and two RBIs.
Goleta Valley got off to a fast start with Feldhaus hitting his three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning.
Quartz Hill chipped away at the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the second.
Goleta Valley continued to pound Quartz Hill pitching in the third. Katsev singled, Guardino doubled and Kyle Ownsby brought them home with a towering three-run homer for an 8-4 lead.
But no lead was safe in this game. Quartz Hill erupted in the fourth and fifth innings and went ahead 11-9.
With the pressure on, Goleta Valley stayed composed and scored three runs in the sixth to go ahead 12-11. Thomas Hantgin singled in Guardino and, after a walk, scored the tying run on a double steal. A two-out single by Roberts plated Gonzalez for the go-ahead run.
But Quartz Hill would scratch out a run in the bottom of the sixth to force extra innings.
The seventh inning was crazy. Katsev and Hantgin hit two-run homers and Roberts knocked in a run with a single for an 18-12 lead.
Quartz Hill scored four times and had the winning run on base when Gonzalez got the final out.
Goleta Valley is back in action Tuesday.
