"I told them baseball is a funny game and sometimes you have an off day," Maisel recalled the message he gave his "shocked and disappointed" players after a red-hot Moreland squad whipped them 10-0 in five innings. "I told them I expected them to be ready to play the next day."

The next day, playing for the championship and the right to represent District 44 in the Section 5 tournament in Hollister, Moreland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

But before negative thoughts like "Will we ever stop Moreland?" or "Will we ever score against them?" could enter his teammates' heads, Cody Alfred crushed a three-run homer over the left-field fence to put Cupertino National ahead 3-2.

"That really helped the boys get back on track," Maisel said of Alfred's blast at Miller Middle School on July 11.

The right arm of pitcher Beau Rahn helped the CN all-stars stay on track. They held on for a 5-3 win and the championship.

Rahn scattered eight hits while earning his third complete-game victory of the double-elimination tourney. After National had a first-round bye, Rahn went the distance in a 14-3 second-round triumph over Los Altos and a 9-4 victory over Campbell in the winners bracket finale.

Cupertino National managed just six hits against Moreland's Willard, but they were productive. Conner Criddle led the way with three hits and two RBIs, including a fourth-inning single that chased home Grant Manley. Anthony Maldonado belted a double and scored a run.

The championship game was a big turnaround from the day before when Moreland put away CN with two big innings, a four-run second and a six-run fifth.

"Except for Moreland, we jumped out for an early lead in each game," Maisel said.

National scored six runs in the first inning against Los Altos and jumped ahead of Cupertino American then hung on for a 5-3 decision. Isaiah Lott and Maldonado rapped doubles against Los Altos. Criddle was 3-for-3 and split the pitching chores with Alfred against Cupertino American.

Alfred had two hits and four RBIs against Campbell, including a three-run double in the second inning, as National took an early 6-0 lead. Rahn struck out seven in the game. He pitched five scoreless innings, with a four-run fourth being the only rough spot.

Maisel praised his team's defensive play. The infield of third baseman John Geary, shortstop Ian Anderson and second baseman Maxx Sheehan and either Rahn or Alfred at first "made few errors and several good plays," Maisel said.

The outfield was anchored by Manley or Lott in center, with Maldonado, Desmond Maisel, Nathan Burroughs and Nick Sinzig playing left or right. Criddle was the catcher unless he was pitching.

"I was really impressed with how this team came together," Maisel said.

Cupertino American finished 3-2, losing only to the two finalists of the 12-team tournament. CA beat Briarwood 8-7 and Mountain View 13-0 before losing to Cupertino National. American bounced back with a 7-3 triumph over Sunnyvale Metro, but was eliminated by Moreland 8-1.

American, led by manager Dave Muscolo and coaches Ken Dziuba and Fred Zamagni, put together 12-hit attacks in their wins over Mountain View and Metro. Billy Zamagni led the hit parade with three. Kevin Dziuba and Galen Wilson both had two hits.

Winning pitcher Colin Wan, who struck out five batters in four innings, had one of CA's three doubles. Wilson and Kyle Muscolo also had two-baggers.

CA scored all seven of its runs against Metro in the second inning.