The Orcutt National Little League 12’s All-Stars put their hitting balance on display Saturday.

Seven Orcutt National batters had at least one of the team’s 10 hits, and Orcutt National moved into the winner’s bracket semifinals of the District 65 12’s Tournament with a 10-6 win over Orcutt American at Nipomo Community Park, Nipomo Little League’s home site. Nipomo Little League is hosting the tournament.

“Everyone in our lineup, guys 1-through-13, can hit,” Orcutt National manager Ray Morawski said after his team won its tournament opener. Morawski managed the Orcutt National Marlins during the regular season. 

Saturday was the opening day of the double elimination 12’s tournament. The Orcutt National-Orcutt American game took place on Nipomo’s field two. Orcutt National will play the Lompoc-Village Hills winner on field one Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Orcutt National saw Orcutt American erase the 4-0 lead the designated visitors had built up by scoring four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Orcutt National burst loose for six runs in the top of the third and stayed in control.

Orcutt National started the top of the third with three straight hits, a Dion Stevenson single, a Sammy Padilla double and a Josh Thomas single that scored Stevenson with the go-ahead run, which also turned out to be the winning run.

Herbie Gerfen walloped a two-run triple into the right field corner later in the inning after hitting an RBI single in the second. The other runs for the designated visitor in that inning came on a Kai Earing groundout, a passed ball and an error.

Gerfen finished two-for-two with two RBIs. Gerfin singled in a run in Orcutt National’s three-run second.

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Earing singled in Stevenson in the first with the first run of the game and finished with two RBIs. Orcutt National catcher Tanner Jokela earned an RBI the hard way when he was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game with the bases loaded in the second.

Joseph Silva doubled in two runs in the four-run Orcutt American second inning. Three of Orcutt American’s four hits came in the second inning, and all three of those went for RBIs.

Lukas Covarrubias singled in the first Orcutt American run. Ryan Gastelum singled in the last one.

After Orcutt National reliver Hunter Sheridan struck out the side in order in the fourth inning, Orcutt American scored twice without a hit in the fifth. Sheridan retired the side in order in the sixth to close it out for Orcutt National.

Stevenson, Orcutt National shortstop Patrick Campa and Orcutt National center fielder Rylan Kelly played for the Orcutt National Giants team that won the Elks Valley Little League championship last week.

Stevenson was Orcutt National’s starting pitcher Saturday. He moved to left field later in the game and threw out an Orcutt American runner who was trying to score on an errant throw in the fifth.

“Our players are really spread out from teams throughout the league,” said Morawski. “We don’t have more than three players from any one team.”