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Photograph by Chad Pilster
Los Gatos sophomore Steve Sweeney (15) is greeted at home plate after blasting a three-run homer in last week's win over Cupertino.
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New season begins for Cats in section baseball playoffs
By Dick Sparrer
The regular season ended for the Los Gatos baseball team last week when the Wildcats split a pair of decisions with Wilcox and Cupertino.
But just because the regular season ended, that didn't mean the year was over for the Wildcats. As far as head coach Don Ardissone and his Cats are concerned, the season is just beginning.
Los Gatos has earned a place in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, and the Cats will open postseason play on May 18, 3 p.m., at North Monterey County. Gatos takes a 12-17 season record up against North Monterey and its 21-9 mark.
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to a 1 p.m. game on May 20 against the Aragon (15-5)-Sacred Heart Cathedral (17-9-1) first-round winner. The quarterfinal game will be played at Santa Clara's Washington Park.
Gatos wrapped up the regular season with a solid 10-7 win over Cupertino last week. Sophomore Steve Sweeney ripped a three-run homer to spark an eight-run rally in the second inning, and the Cats coasted from there to the win.
Senior left-hander Steve Chase combined with Matt Swanson to toss a seven-hitter at the Pioneers. Chase was the winning pitcher and Swanson came on to get the save.
Chase helped his cause at the plate with three hits, and Sweeney had a single to go with his HR. Chris Denevi singled and doubled for the Cats, Chris Eagen and Markus Willard had two hits apiece and Travis Howell drove in three runs.
Earlier in the week, Los Gatos played division champion Wilcox tough, but lost an 11-8 decision.
Frank Alioto homered twice to drive in three runs for the Cats. Joey Warren doubled and singled twice and Willard singled and doubled.
Frosh-soph wins
The Los Gatos frosh-soph baseball team knocked off Milpitas 9-5 and Monta Vista 14-3 to hold onto first place in the De Anza Division with a 12-2 record.
A three-run double by Chris Willard and a two-run double by Alex Anderson sparked the Cats to the win over Milpitas.
Willard had three singles to go with his double. Dan Holtzman had two hits for the Cats and James Gentry and Tyler Wilson each singled.
Adam Nelson tossed five innings for the win and Matt Cooke pitched the final two.
Holtzman tripled, doubled twice and singled to lead the Cats to the win over Monta Vista. Adam Nelson homered and singled in the win, Anderson singled and doubled, and Wilson and Adam Crane added two hits apiece. Dave Fencil tripled and Ryan Daily, Gentry, Jayson Furia and Jeff Oleson each singled.
Anderson and Cooke teamed to toss the Cats to the win.
Gatos lost a tough 4-2 nod to Fremont. Furia had two hits for the Wildcats and Anderson drilled a two-run single. Gentry doubled in the loss and Willard and Holtzman each singled.
Softball win
The softball season ended on a winning note for the Los Gatos girls, who pulled out a 5-1 win over Monta Vista on the final day of the season.
The Wildcats broke open a 1-1 tie with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to nail the win over the Matadors. Kimi Enright tossed a five-hitter for the victory and Michelle Barker singled and doubled to knock in a pair of runs. Kimberly Pugh doubled in the win.
The win came after losses to Santa Clara (3-1) and Wilcox (7-0) earlier in the week, and couldn't keep the Cats out of the cellar in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL. Pugh had three hits in the loss to the Bruins.
The Cats finished the year with a 3-16 record overall and ended up in last place in the De Anza Division at 1-11.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
