Frey's ninth-inning hit wins game for Pirates

By Dick Sparrer

Last-inning heroics are becoming rather commonplace in the major division of the Los Gatos Little League. And last week was certainly no exception.

Four games were decided in the last inning of action last week, with the game-winning hit coming in the ninth inning of one of the four games.

Clutch sixth-inning hits were delivered by Daniel Langhoff, whose run-scoring single helped the Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Padres; Riley Curran, whose two-run double sparked the Indians to an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Cubs; and Derek Thomas, whose two-run homer lifted the Yankees past the Pirates 2-1 last Saturday.

But it took three days and three extra innings before Danny Frey's clutch single to left field could give the Pirates a hard-earned 5-4 win over the Yanks.

The clubs had played to a 4-4 tie through eight innings on Thursday evening. Darkness caused suspension of the game, and the clubs returned to Baggerly Field on Saturday to wrap things up.

The Bucs went right to work in the top of the ninth. Daniel Silva walked but was forced at second by Mitchell Benedetti. Justin Shafer singled to put runners on first and second.

An out later, Frey lined a single into left to drive home Benedetti with the tie-breaking run.

Relief pitcher Stephen Genetti struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to help the Pirates nail down the win.

A run-scoring single by Zack Wicht and a two-run double by Riley Katolin had given the Yanks the early lead in the game, and they were up 4-2 heading into the sixth.

But Genetti walked and Andrew Clark reached on an error to keep the Pirates alive. Blake Morrison sacrificed the two into scoring position and, with two outs, Silva singled the two runs home to tie it and set the stage for Frey's extra-inning heroics.

But the Yankees were not to be outdone. They came back on Saturday with a dramatic win of their own.

Thomas lined a two-run homer over the center field fence to give the Yanks a thrilling 2-1 win over the Pirates.

The Bucs had taken the early lead with a run in the first. Shafer singled, moved to second when Frey reached on an error, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Silva.

But that was all the Pirates would get against Katolin. The hurler tossed a two-hitter, striking out five, to claim the win for the Yanks.

And it was Thomas who made him a winner in the sixth. Bricklin Foley walked, then scored ahead of Thomas on the one-out homer.

Thomas had two hits and Blake Benning singled for the only hits the Yanks could manage against Alex Tsusaki and Genetti, who each tossed three innings for the Bucs.

Shafer and Tsusaki had the only hits against Katolin.

Langhoff was the hero in the Rangers' 3-2 win over the Padres earlier in the week.

The clubs were tied 2-2 heading into the sixth when John Forbes and Chad Bannon each singled with one out. Langhoff followed with a run-scoring single to put his club on top 3-2.

Navneet Hakhu, whose two-run double in the third had tied the game, finished off the Padres in the bottom of the sixth. He gave up a double to Charlie Denues, but otherwise struck out the side to nail down the win. Hakhu fanned 11 in his five-hitter.

Bannon and Cody Sanford had two hits apiece in the win.

Jason Stein had two hits for the Padres and Nick Elias belted a two-run single in the second. Stein was tagged with the pitching loss, despite going the distance and striking out nine.

The Padres answered back with a 9-4 win over the Rangers on Saturday. David Pavicich and Denues tossed three innings apiece in the win. Pavicich doubled and singled twice and Denues singled and doubled. Sam Dickinson also singled and doubled and Chip Dreesman and Daniel Norvelle each doubled.

Hakhu doubled for the Rangers.

Curran helped make the Indians a winner in Saturday's clash with the Cubs.

The Tribe trailed 7-5 heading into the last of the sixth when the hitters went to work. David Martini doubled and raced home on a single by Chris Keesling. Matt Perrone walked with one out and Zack Sylvester reached on an error. With two outs, Curran ripped a double to drive home the tying and winning runs.

Michael Dundurs singled and tripled for the Indians and Martini singled and doubled. Sylvester and Danny Brassfield each doubled.

Louis Santoro singled, doubled and homered to lead the Cubs at the plate. Robbie Perry had two hits, Marty Mullins doubled home three runs and Wes Howell doubled.

Earlier in the week, Brassfield went the distance to toss the Indians to a 4-2 win over the Cubs. He struck out six.

Noah Henry singled twice to drive in a pair of runs and Jeremy Cleveland doubled.

K.C. Silva doubled for the Cubs and Timmy Sweeney and Paul Politi each delivered run-scoring singles.

Mullins tossed a complete game in the loss, striking out 11.

In other Saturday action, the Cardinals ripped the Giants 15-3. Rusty Wall and Forrest Gallien tossed three innings apiece in the win.

Niki Chow was three-for-three with two walks and drove in three runs in the win. Woody Wilkerson singled and tripled and Wall singled and doubled.

Earlier in the week, Wall had three hits, scored three runs and knocked in two and Gallien had two hits to plate three runs to lead the Cards to an 11-3 win over the Giants. The two also tossed three innings apiece in the win. Michael Picone singled and walked three times for the Cards.

Trevor Campbell was two-for-two for the Giants.

The A's handled the Marlins 13-6 in a Friday evening game. Danny Sullivan ripped a two-run homer to key a seven-run rally in the third for the A's. John Gallien and Kyle Blair each belted two-run doubles in the inning.

J. Gallien doubled twice in the win, Sullivan had two hits to drive in four runs, Blair had two hits, Nick Nowak doubled and Nick Kalpin tripled.

Ben Hintz doubled for the Marlins.

In games the previous Sunday, Denues tossed three one-hit innings and Pavicich ripped a three-run homer to lead the Padres to a 9-8 win over the Cardinals. Dreesman singled and doubled in the win and Eric McDonald doubled.

Santoro singled and crushed a three-run homer and he was also the winning pitcher for the Cubs in a 9-1 win over the Rangers. P. Politi tripled and singled twice, Perry doubled and tripled and Mullins tripled. Nick Politi also threw three innings for the Cubs.

Kevin Connery and Mark Hasson each doubled for the Rangers.

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Los Gatos Little League major division standings (as of Saturday, May 6): Padres 9-3, A's 7-3, Cubs 8-4, Indians 8-4, Pirates 6-6, Yankees 6-6, Cardinals 4-7, Rangers 4-8, Marlins 3-8, Giants 3-9.

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