Half Moon Bay Little League All-Stars Juniors’ run comes to an end in Northern California regionals

With the loss, HMB wraps up a summer season in which they posted an 8-2 record, capturing both the District 52 and Section 3 championship banners. They are just the third District 52 Juniors team ever to advance to the Nor Cal regionals since 2007.

“There was a lot of tears shed today,” HMB manager Corey Gunning said. “Honestly, just my biggest point to make to the kids was the accomplishment they made just coming from a small town and just competing together since they were 9 years old.”

Gunning has been coaching the core group of HMB’s 14-year-olds since 2021, when 11 players from the current 13-man roster played as the HMB Pirates. He has coached the group at each stage of the Little League All-Star tournaments over the previous four years, including back-to-back District 52 championships at Intermediates and Juniors, respectively.

“Everyone was a little bit down about the loss,” HMB player Tristan Chaney said. “But everybody was keeping their head up high.”

Chaney produced the lone highlight for the HMB offense Tuesday with an RBI single in the third inning. Arden jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a two-run single from Jake Jenson. But, with the No. 12 batter Chaney due up fifth in the third, the right-handed hitter was confident he’d get a chance to hit in the inning.

“Yeah, I was ready because I believe our team has a good order from top to bottom, Chaney said. “So, I did believe our team is good enough to get hits anywhere in the order, and that I could get the opportunity to hit.”

Thomas Benson led off the third with a single to center, and Aiden Keates kept the rally alive with a two-out walk. Chaney then pulled an RBI single down the left-field line to cut the deficit to 2-1. Jax Brown then reached on catcher’s interference to load the bases, but Arden reliever Keller Douglas escaped the jam by stranding all three.

HMB had at least two runners on base in four of the last five innings, but, after hitting .364 as a team through the summer, stranded 10 runners in the game.

“Just a couple breaks didn’t go our way where a couple hits they got went in the gap, and ... we just didn’t come up with the big hit when we needed it with runners on base,” Corey Gunning said. “We had a couple different opportunities, but couldn’t get that break.”

After Arden closer Miles Carney set down the side in order in the top of the sixth, Arden tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the frame. With one on and two out, Beau Phillips tripled to left to make it 3-1. Emi De La Cruz followed with an RBI double to left to cap the scoring.

HMB threatened in the seventh. Greyson Riesen got hit by a pitch to open the inning, but Carney bounced back by gloving a comebacker to turn a 1-6-3 double play. Ollie Kern then drew a two-out walk, and Brayden Davis prolonged the game with a single to left. But Carney finished it out for the save when Jack Meldrum flew out to center fielder Colin Wackerly to end it.

De La Cruz earned the win on the mound, as Arden’s starting pitcher allowed one run on two hits through 2 2/3 innings.

“I thought they had a lot of good pitchers but it was nothing we hadn’t seen before,” Chaney said. “But they had very good fielding.”

Wyatt Gunning worked 2 1/3 innings as HMB’s starting pitcher, and Riesen spanned 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Adren now advances to the elimination bracket semifinals to face Turlock American Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The winner advances to the Nor Cal championship round starting Thursday to face Sunnyvale.

Seven of HMB’s players — Benson, Chaney, Davis, Kern, Meldrum, Mackey Connell and Wyatt Gunning — are set to attend Half Moon Bay High School as incoming freshmen in the fall. Luke Gordon and Dom Seaton are incoming eighth-graders, and are planning to start at HMB High in 2027-28. Four of HMB’s players are going the private school route, with Riesen and Jax Brown headed to Serra, while Keates and Kayden Castaneda go to St. Ignatius-SF.

Corey Gunning said he is stepping away from coaching baseball, but will continue to coach softball. His daughter Makaela Gunning, the youngest of his three children, plays for the Half Moon Bay Waves, with Corey Gunning serving as assistant coach and his wife Penelope Gunning head coach for the travel team. Corey Gunning previous coached youth softball teams for his oldest daughter Bailey Gunning, now an incoming senior at HMB High.

“I think I’m going to take a little break (from baseball),” Corey Gunning said. “It’s hard, man. I’ve been blessed with great parents, great kids that want to battle for each other. It’s been great. So, I think I’m going to take a little time off.”

HMB last advanced to the Nor Cal regional tournament in 2007. San Carlos also reached regional play 2021.