SALIDA — The Spreckels Park Junior Division All-Star team overcame several errors to outlast Mountain House, 11-8, on Tuesday, June 30, at Salida Elementary School in the consolation bracket of the District 67 All-Star Tournament.

After a sharp start from Buddy Reeder (three-plus innings, five strikeouts), Spreckels errors allowed Mountain House to take a 7-4 lead into the fifth. Spreckels, led by doubles from Zach-Leon Guerrero (two), Marc Wilson, Logan Sanders and Makana Ward, rallied for an 8-8 tie in the sixth and scored three more in the seventh for the win.

“It was just one of those games where the defense was not there,” Spreckels Park coach Chris Van Warmerdam said. “We had a lot of good hitters, but we are going to have to play better defense if we are to move on.”

Spreckels Park was slated to play Tracy National on Thursday, July 2, in the third round of the consolation bracket, though results weren’t available at press time. Tracy topped Spreckels in the opening round, 11-5.

If Spreckels Park wins, it will play Friday, July 3, against either Weston Ranch or Tracy American for a shot to make it to the final.

“We just have to take it one game at a time,” Van Warmerdam said. “We’ve come this far with this group and have a bunch of good athletes. If they all play up to their potential and abilities, we will move on.”

Spreckels Park headed into the all-star bracket without one of the league’s top pitchers and hitters in perennial all-star Jayson Manuta. The standout hurler chose to forgo the all-star season in favor of preparing for freshman football at Sierra High, a move that has hit the Spreckels roster hard.

“Jayson carried our Spreckels Park Titans team throughout the season, but I respect his commitment to playing football now,” Van Warmerdam said. “I’m sure he will be successful there also.”