Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Los Gatos softball standout Juli Fomenko puts down a bunt during action in the Charlie Miguel Softball Tournament. The Wildcats won four games before getting eliminated 2-1 by Wilcox.

Warriors play for Miguel title

Gatos girls win four before facing elimination

By Dick Sparrer

Westmont needed a boost.The Warriors were off to a dismal start in the 1998 girls' softball season, winning just six of their first 13 games.

But faster than you can say Lisa Chapman, the Warriors turned their season around.

Chapman, a freshman pitcher for Westmont, won five straight games in a weekend, and the Warriors won six games in all as they turned their season record from 6-7 to 12-7 almost overnight.

Westmont fought through the loser's bracket of the Charlie Miguel Tournament at Mission College with six victories to move into the finals against winner's bracket champ Santa Teresa.

"That gave us a real boost," said Westmont coach Todd Lafferty of the string of wins. And Chapman was responsible for much of the Warriors' success.

Her five victories helped Westmont into last Saturday's title game against Santa Teresa. The Warriors dropped a tough 4-2 nod to the Saints in the finals, but that didn't keep Chapman from raking in post-tournament honors.

Chapman was named the most valuable pitcher in the tournament after helping the Warriors reach the title game.

Laura Nunez was tagged most valuable player of the tournament after leading Santa Teresa to the team championship in the event that lasted some three weeks due to inclement weather.

Rounding out the all-tournament team were Brooke Charland of Del Mar, Sheila Hess of Fremont, Shawnti Bortoli of Homestead, Nancy Mills of Los Gatos, Angela Locke of Lynbrook, Jenny Reyda of Monta Vista, Mariah Fike of Mountain View, Jessica Busick of Piedmont Hills, Lindy Tintelnot of Santa Teresa, Shelley Bruno of Valley Christian, Jessica Cobillas of Westmont, Vicky Doane of Wilcox and Niki Garcia of Willow Glen.

Los Gatos was eliminated 2-1 by Wilcox, but only after the Wildcats had eliminated four other clubs in the tournament's loser's bracket.

The Wildcats lost their tourney opener to Mountain View, but they came back to knock Notre Dame Belmont and Lincoln out of the tournament sending Valley Christian home with a tight 2-1 victory.

Nancy Mills tossed a two-hitter for the win over Valley. She blanked the Warriors for six innings before giving up a single run int he seventh.

Mills, the hurler who earned a place on the all-tourney squad, fired a three-hitter in a 6-1 win over Lynbrook. She also doubled and tripled to lead the Gatos offense.

Gillian Wadas ripped a two-run homer, and Juli Fomenko tripled. Jessica Enright doubled and Courtney Radonich knocked in two runs.

But a game after eliminating Lynbrook, the Wildcats were themselves eliminated from the tourney when they dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Wilcox. Alisha Boley was tagged with the tough loss despite tossing a five-hitter.

Gatos returned to league play this week and split in a pair of games in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. The Wildcats lost a tough 3-2 nod to Wilcox despite a six-hitter by Mills. Fomenko tripled for the Cats.

Mills went the distance to fire a three-hitter in a 2-1 win over Mountain View later in the week. Mills struck out seven and walked none in the win, as she ran her pitching record to 8-2 for the year.

Enright singled and doubled in the game and Mills cracked a double.

The Wildcats are now 3-1 in the division and 12-4-1 for the year.

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