 | | | From left: Ryan Ansel, Nico Hsu, Coach Robert Filipas, Amir Khan, Lucas Olsen, Nick Acevedo, Quentin Breznikar, Nick Wong, Cambell Hoskins, Nick Watson, Greg Austin, Coach Rob Ellis, Chris Watson Photo provided | | | | | | The Orinda baseball team 14 U Bandits are the 2016 680 Diablo League Gold Champions. The championship tournament was held June 3-5 in Santa Clara.
Manager Robert Filipas credited a true team effort for the win, with every player contributing with timely hitting and outstanding error free defense. Coach Robert Ellis orchestrated the pitching rotations to allow the Bandits the depth to finish: Greg Austin, Nick Watson, Campbell Hoskins, Quentin Breznikar were the winning pitchers throughout the tournament, while Lucas Olsen and Nick Wong provided clutch relief. Ryan Ansel and Amir Khan showed nerves of steel with nail-biting saves. Nico Hsu and Campbell Hoskins alternated at catcher, throwing out multiple base runners trying to steal.
Ansel and Khan brought the big lumber to Santa Clara as both hit timely home runs that measured over 300 feet. The championship game was a fantastic back and forth battle that came down to the last inning. In the top of the seventh inning, Bandit right fielder Nick Acevedo made a great running catch in right field which prevented the go ahead run from scoring, followed by third baseman Chris Watson snaring a rocket off the Bulldawgs bat for the final out. The Bandits had one more chance to win the game and tournament heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Bandits, started their half of the seventh with back-to-back doubles by Olsen and Khan, followed by an intentional walk to Wong. With the bases now loaded and the crowd roaring, the inning and game ended in dramatic fashion with a walk-off single by Austin, which plated Olsen for the winning run and sent the Orinda fans in attendance into wild celebration.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA