Photograph by Robert Scheer
Los Gatos third sacker Tova Rugani handles a routine ground ball against St. Francis. But it was the Lancers who handled the Wildcats in the De Anza Division game, posting a 3-0 victory.
By Dick Sparrer
Nine hits is hardly enough to win one baseball game in the rugged De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, let alone two.
But the Los Gatos baseball team made nine hits stand up for two victories in De Anza Division play last week--thanks to some solid pitching and sturdy defense.
The Wildcats put together back-to-back 4-0 wins over Palo Alto and Milpitas to improve to 8-4 in the division and to 9-6 for the year.
The Cats committed just one error in the two games and took advantage of a couple of solid pitching performances by Court Showerman and Michael Houghton.
Showerman tossed a four-hit shutout in the 4-0 win over Paly to open the week. He struck out three and walked just three, and got some outstanding defensive support.
The Cats committed just one error behind him, and center fielder Joel Gremore made an outstanding diving catch in left-center, going away from the infield.
"He made a catch in center field that's the best I've seen," veteran coach Wayne Senini said after the win. "And we played real good defense."
The Wildcats rapped just five hits in the game, but they put them together for four runs.
Sean Senini singled with one out in the first, the first of his two hits in the game. Nick Cuevas singled Senini to second, and he scored when Showerman reached on an error. Cuevas scored when Brian Geddie reached on an error.
Scott Grover cracked a two-out single in the fourth and Senini walked. The runners were balked to second and third and both scored on a double by Cuevas, his second second of the day.
Houghton, plagued by arm problems most of the year, made his league debut a couple of days later, and what a debut it was. Houghton faced just 24 batters and threw only pitches in a
4-0 win over Milpitas. He gave up just two singles and two walks and struck out only three. His mates played errorless baseball behind him.
"Pitching and defense is carrying us right now," Senini said, adding, "It's nice to see (Houghton) back. With Showerman and (Noah) Sweeters, it gives up three good pitchers as we head down the stretch."
Los Gatos gave Houghton all the support he needed with two runs in the first.
Grover walked and raced all the way to third when Senini grounded out on a hit and run. Cuevas walked and Grover scored when Showerman bounced into a fielder's choice.
Craig Frey lifted a fly to short left that was dropped by the left fielder when he collided with the shortstop. Showerman scored on the play to put the Cats up 2-0.
Gatos made it 3-0 with a run in the second. Geddie walked, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Stephan Ballentine, and scored on a single by Grover.
The Cats added an insurance run in the fifth. Frey and Geddie each walked. With two outs, Sean Haley beat out an infield hit to drive home Frey. Grover had two hits and Senini and Haley each singled to round out the four-hit attack for Gatos.
The two wins leave the Cats just two games behind first-place Wilcox (10-2) in the division standings. Gatos will host Wilcox on April 24 before visiting third-place Monta Vista on April 26. Both games begin at 3:30 p.m.
Leigh wins two
Leigh, meanwhile, won a pair of games in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last week.
Troy Marcyes and Jeremy Kreuzer each came through with complete game performances to toss the Longhorns to wins over Oak Grove and Independence. Marcyes flipped a seven-hitter to help the 'Horns to an 8-3 win over the Eagles. Marcyes ran his mound record to 3-2 with the win.
Will St. Clair ripped a home run and Taylor Capilla tripled home three runs for Leigh. Scott Whiteford tripled and Brett Robinson doubled in the win.
Leigh, 5-3 in the division and 8-9 for the year, had opened the week with an 8-2 win over Independence behind a seven-hitter by Kreuzer. Robinson doubled home three runs in the wins and Capillia knocked in a pair. Marcyes ripped a double.
Leigh will visit Pioneer on April 23 before hosting Leland on April 25 in a pair of 3:30 p.m. games this week.
Bellew rips two hits
The Los Gatos girls' softball team dropped a tough 3-0 decision to St. Francis in De Anza Division play last week.
Junior outfielder Sara Bellew ripped a pair of singles for the Wildcats, but Gatos had just four hits in the game.
The Cats slipped to 3-4 in the division and to 7-6 for the year with the loss. They will host Wilcox on April 24 and visit Mountain View on April 26 in a couple of 4 p.m. games this week.
Rose tosses shutout
Freshman hurler Kim Rose tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Leigh girls' softball team to a 3-0 win over Gunderson in Mt. Hamilton Division play last week.
Rose struck out six in the win, and she helped her cause with a pair of hits. Cora-Lee Rogers and Kelli Mirassou added two hits apiece in the win.
Leigh had opened the week by battling Westmont to a scoreless tie through six innings. Rose and Westmont ace Renee Sease were each tossing four-hit shutouts when the game was called. Nikki McDonald had two hits for Leigh.
Leigh, now 5-1-1 in division play, will host Mitty on April 23 and visit Santa Teresa on April 25 in a couple of 3:30 p.m. starts.
The Longhorns lost 3-0 to Mitty in the quarterfinals of the Strikker Tournament at Mission College last weekend. Leigh had earned its place in the quarters with a 10-0 win over Valley Christian on a one-hit shutout by Rose. Dani Crowley tripled and singled twice in the win and Rose drove in four runs.
Rogers earned a place on the all-tournament team for Leigh.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, April 24, 1996.
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