The team representing the Oakland Athletics at the Area Code Games fell just short on Wednesday afternoon, facing an East Coast-laden roster representing the New York Yankees.
The Yankees scored once in the bottom of the sixth inning to emerge with a 6-5 victory, despite some timely hitting early from the NorCal squad.
Turlock catcher Tyler Soderstrom had another standout day at the plate for the A's. Two days after driving in a pair of runs in an Opening Day victory, the UCLA commit was the only player on the roster with two hits during the loss. The A's fell behind early, but took the lead in the top of the second inning, when Leland outfielder Carson Yates singled up the middle with two outs to score Vacaville two-sport standout Michael Brown, and his at-bat was followed by a two-run single off the bat of Lodi's Omar Plascencia, driving in Turlock's Cole Carrigg and Yates for a 3-2 advantage.
The Yankees took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third, but the A's rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Yates drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Vacaville's Brian McClellin, and then with two outs and the bases loaded, Santa Cruz's Brendan Bobo was hit by a pitch, scoring San Ramon Valley's Jack Grant.
Damonte Ranch-Reno's Jadon Bercovich was impressive on the mound in the bottom of the fifth for the A's, notching three strikeouts during his lone inning, but the Yankees added a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning to emerge with the victory.
The A's squad hits the field again on Thursday afternoon, facing a largely Southwest roster representing the Cincinnati Reds.
