Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Chase sparks Braves to Pony win over Sox

By Brian Harr

The baseball season is under way, and not just for Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants--but for the Giants and the rest of the teams that make up the Los Gatos Pony League.

The season began when the Braves routed the Willow Glen Red Sox 12-1. Steve Chase not only stole two bases and scored three runs, but he was also the winning pitcher, striking out seven Sox, walking none and giving up one earned run in five innings.

Braves center fielder Kevin Krug tripled and scored three runs.

Ryan O'Gorman led the charge as the Pirates beat the Giants 12-2. O'Gorman homered and scored three runs in the win. He was also the winning pitcher, striking out seven and walking just four. Andrew Holcomb was two-for-three with four stolen bases and a couple of runs scored in the win.

The Orioles and Mariners hooked up in what was expected to be a pitchers' duel when left-hander Tyler Graham of the O's matched up with Alex Burda of the Mariners. But the O's capitalized on some early errors to put four runs on the board in the first inning on the way to a 16-5 win.

Joey Warren singled and doubled for the Mariners.

Matt McNamara ripped three doubles and a single to lead the Giants to a 13-4 win over the Pirates. Marc Walleen had two hits for the Bucs.

Ben Winkleman was three-for-four to lead the Reds to an 8-7 win over the Rangers. Mike Cook had two hits and swiped three bases for the Rangers.

Hits by Joey Warren, Burda and Derek Smith keyed a four-run fifth-inning rally to spark the Mariners to a 14-13 win over the Orioles. A single by Warren and a double by Ben Frazier opened the gates for a five-run first inning for the Mariners.

Graham tripled for the O's.

Ben Shanker fired a three-hitter to toss the Rangers to a 12-5 win over the Reds. Eric Hansen had two hits for the Reds.

Shanker singled and scored the game-winning run in the Rangers' 2-1 win over the Giants. Shanker struck out six in three shutout innings on the hill. Blake Sanfilippo also scored in the win.

Beau Knight threw well in the loss for the Giants.

Eric Raich flipped four shutout innings and singled twice to lead the Braves to a 15-0 win over the Mariners.

Brandon Chappette doubled to spark a three-run rally in the sixth to drive the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Reds. Casey Neale homered and doubled in the loss.

Knight gave up just one run through five innings to toss the Giants to a 3-1 win over the Rangers.