Hoover’s predominantly right-handed lineup peppered the right-field fence with multiple extra-base hits, led by catcher Bobby Romero’s three-for-four day with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in.
The Tornadoes, who also got three hits from Cameron Doran and two hits apiece from Tyler Delzell and Robert Guerrero, rapped out 13 hits on the day and also benefited from two errors and nine walks dished out by Gorillas pitchers.
With Doran on the mound, Hoover took a 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings courtesy of RBIs by Romero, Guerrero and Delzell.
After Oakwood (2-5) battled back with four runs in the top of the third inning, Hoover (3-7) took a 10-4 lead in a six-run bottom of the fourth that saw Oakwood dispense three consecutive bases-loaded walks and also included RBIs on balls in play for Delzell, Guerrero and Kevin Mendoza.
Oakwood then rallied from down, 11-5, to pull within two runs going into the bottom of the sixth, where Romero singled in Doran for an insurance run before taking the mound in the top of the seventh to record the save.
“It feels good, it’s been a while,” Cotti said. “I’m very happy [with how we closed out the game]. They never stopped, [Oakwood] came back at us and [our guys] never stopped, they just didn’t give up.”
Hoover continues nonleague play with a home game against Delphi Academy at 3:15 p.m. Monday.
