Photograph by Scott Lechner
Yer out!!! Young Alex Zanotto of the Giants can't believe the call as the umpire punches him out at home after a close play at the plate. The Giants ended up losing to the Pirates.
Little League set for official opener
Pirates, Yanks top the list of four unbeaten teams in major circuit
By Dick Sparrer
The season began a few weeks back. Some teams, in fact, have played as many as six games.
But the Los Gatos Little League baseball season will officially get under way on April 24 when the league hosts opening day ceremonies at 9 a.m. at Baggerly Field in Blossom Hill Park.
Mayor Jan Hutchins will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the league will introduce its 1998 10-year-old all-star team that won the District 12 championship.
The first game of the day will match the Cubs and the Pirates at 11:15 a.m.
The clubs were undefeated in the league season heading into an April 20 clash with each other. In fact, they were two of four unbeaten teams remaining after play last weekend.
The Pirates and Yankees each won last weekend to improve their records to 6-0, and the Cubs and A's posted victories to move to 5-0.
Jason Lasswell and Danny Sullivan combined to a toss a no-hitter to lift the A's to a 9-3 win over the Indians last Saturday. Lasswell tossed two-plus innings, and Sullivan struck out four in two and two-thirds innings of relief. Sullivan had two hits for the A's, who broke open a close game with six runs in the fifth.
Nick Ibarra and Scott Brown scored two runs apiece for the winners.
The Cubs pulled out a thrilling 10-9 win over the Rangers to remain unbeaten. Nick Politi beat out an infield hit with two outs in the sixth to drive in the tying run, and the winning run came around to score on a throwing error on the play.
Kenny Rodriguez tossed three innings to get the pitching win for the Cubs, striking out the side in the sixth to help nail down the victory.
The Pirates two-timed the Giants last week to push their season record to 6-0. The Bucs beat the Giants 6-2 to open the week, then backed that up with a 5-3 win on Saturday.
Nick Gaffney and Charlie Self teamed to toss a three-hitter in the first win over the Giants. They threw three innings each and struck out four apiece.
Andrew Silva singled and doubled for the Pirates and Daniel Silva ripped a triple.
Will Kapp doubled for the Giants.
Logan Schafer got together with Self to share a six-hitter in the 5-3 Pirates win. Schafer allowed just two hits in the first three innings, and Self came on to fan five over the last three frames.
Schafer singled and doubled to lead the Bucs at the plate. Dylan Burke had two hits and Self doubled.
Kevin McCarty had two hits for the Giants, including a solo homer in the first inning, and Eric Rollin doubled.
The Cardinals and Marlins split a pair of games last week.
Mike Brienzo tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win in the Marlins 5-4 victory over the Cardinals to open the week.
Jack Wall homered in the loss for the Cards.
Wall homered again and his brother, Rusty Wall, tossed a complete game to lift the Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Marlins later in the week.
R. Wall went the distance to toss a three-hitter for the win, striking out eight and walking five.
J. Wall blasted a two-run homer in the first and later singled. Kevin Gallagher had two hits and Michael Picone doubled.
Scott Sanders ripped a two-run triple in the first for the Marlins.
The Yankees won by forfeit over the Padres to remain unbeaten for the year.
Los Gatos Little League major division standings (as of April 17): Pirates 6-0, Yankees 6-0, A's 5-0, Cubs 5-0, Marlins 3-3, Rangers 1-4, Cardinals 1-5, Giants 1-5, Indians 0-5, Padres 0-6.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
