Photograph by Lea Tauriello
The Indians wander across the diamond as they prepare to play the Pirates in the first game ever played on the newly dedicated John Baggerly Field, the home of the Los Gatos Little League.
By Dick Sparrer
It was a big game for the Pirates, and for the Los Gatos Little League.
Not because Trent Edwards struck out nine straight batters, not because Eric Brown blasted a two-run homer, and not even because the Pirates ran their season record to 10-0 with an 11-3 win over the Indians.
No, it was a big game because it was the first played on the newly dedicated John Baggerly Field.
The Los Gatos Little League unveiled a sign as it made the field dedication during opening-day
ceremonies last Saturday at Blossom Hill Park.
The field was named in honor of Baggerly, who has worked tirelessly for the league since its inception in the 1950s.
Baggerly has served the league in many capacities over the last four decades, and he chronicled the progress of the league during his many years as the sports editor of the Los Gatos Times Observer.
It was appropriate, too, that Randy Frey's Pirates played the first game on the newly dedicated field. Frey was Baggerly's protégé at the Times Observer and later became sports editor of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. He has managed the Pirates in the Los Gatos Little League's major division for two decades.
Frey's Pirates won the first game played on Baggerly Field, and they did it in convincing style.
Edwards was the winning pitcher, striking out all nine of the batters he faced. And Brown belted a double and a two-run homer in the fifth to lead the offense. Nick Russell singled and doubled in the win and Logan Schafer and Hans Jorgensen each had two hits. Edwards and Trevor Branon each doubled.
Earlier in the week, the Pirates had edged the Indians 4-3 in a tight game. A run-scoring single by Daniel Holtzman put the Indians up 3-2 heading into the home half of the fifth, but the Pirates tied it in the fifth and won it in the sixth.
Edwards and Eagen combined to toss a five-hitter for the win. Russell and Branon had two hits apiece for the Pirates and Edwards and Matt Seymour each doubled.
Jason Furia had a run-scoring single in the first for the Indians.
Matt DePalma beat out an infield hit and eventually scored on a passed ball to help the Indians pull out a 6-5 win over the Expos. DePalma had two hits and Holtzman singled and doubled for the Indians. Kyle Schafer singled and doubled for the Expos.
Bobby Galmeister tossed a complete game to lead the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Cubs. Brian Cassel doubled twice, Galmeister singled and tripled and Nik Kay had two hits in the win.
Travis Howell singled and ripped a solo homer in the fifth and Brent Millen doubled for the Cubs.
In another close game, the Giants edged the A's 5-4. Chris McMorrow had two hits and Chris Zanotto, Devon Schrock and Matt Finelli each doubled for the winners.
Anthony Frangadakis was 3-for-3 with a triple to lead the A's. Bret Roberts had two hits and Kyle Laubach tripled.
The Rangers and Padres split a pair of games.
Scott Stephenson tossed three no-hit innings to lead the Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Padres. Stephenson struck out five in his three shutout innings of work.
Adam Rude had three hits, Alex Anderson singled and doubled and James Gentry had two hits for the Rangers. David Towson tripled for the Padres.
Matt Cooke turned the tables on the Rangers when he tossed three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, to lead the Padres to a 10-9 win.
Adam Crane had a triple and two singles to lead the Pads. Brian Schiefelbein singled and doubled, Ryan Johnson had two hits, Evan McDonald tripled and Patrick Murphy doubled.
Anderson had three hits and Towson and Peter Baunauch added two hits each for the Rangers.
Run-scoring singles by Jesse Fetke and David Hasson snapped a 4-4 tie and lifted the Marlins to a 6-4 win over the Expos. Fetke, Adam Davis, Daniel Koch and Nick Tom had two hits each for the Marlins.
Brian Miguel belted a three-run homer in the fifth to tie the game 4-4. J.P. Bellotti singled and doubled for the Expos.
Earlier in the week, Nick Nino was the winning pitcher and Ryan Daily was 3-for-3 with a double to knock in four runs for the Expos in a 12-5 win over the Marlins.
Major division standings: Pirates 10-0, Giants 6-2, Padres 7-3, Expos 5-5, Rangers 5-5, A's 4-4, Indians 4-4, Marlins 3-7, Cubs 1-8, Yankees 1-8.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, May 1, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved