Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Season ends, but no Little League champ yet

Leagues enter double elimination tournament play

By Dick Sparrer

The regular season came to an end last Sunday in the major division of the Los Gatos Little League.But it won't be until at least June 13 that a champion will be crowned--and it's got nothing to do with El Niño.

The teams in the division will now enter in the double-elimination league tournament that was to begin June 1 and run through June 13 (June 15, if necessary).

The Pirates posted a 17-1 mark to finish first in the regular season and earn a first-round bye in the tournament. But many other first-round matchups wouldn't be decided until after games were played last Sunday.

The Cubs had something to do with the confusion, thanks to a 3-1 win over the Yankees last Saturday. The win left the Cubs just a game behind the Yanks in the standings heading into their last game on Sunday.

Danny Politi and Jordan Senner tossed three innings apiece in the win. Politi struck out seven in his stint.

Singles by Spencer Maltbie, Nick Politi and Kenny Rodrigues set up a two-run double by D. Politi to help the Cubs take a 2-0 lead in the third. Tyler Carnathan supported with a run-scoring single in the fourth.

Doubles by Jason Livingstone and Beau Brigham accounted for the Yankees' only run.

Livingstone had tossed three perfect innings, fanning five, to lead the Yanks to a 20-1 win over the Padres earlier in the week. Livingstone doubled twice and singled in the game. Bret Hampton singled and doubled, and Kyle Jensen had two hits.

The Indians won just one game last week, but it was a big one. The Indians stuck the Pirates with their first loss of the season.

David Holtzman whirled a six-hitter, fanning 15 and walking just two, to lead the Indians to a 7-4 win over the Pirates.

Holtzman also delivered at the plate with two hits in the win, including a two-run double in the four-run rally in the fourth. Nat Henry singled and cracked a two-run double in the sixth.

But the play of the game came in the fifth when center fielder B.J. Lawlar ran down a fly ball to make a running catch in right center, then fired to first for a doubleplay.

J.P. Grist singled and smacked a two-run triple for the Pirates. Logan Schafer also had two hits, and Adam Hudson doubled.

The Pirates got a little revenge on Saturday, though, with a 3-1 victory. Cory Graham flipped a complete game for the win, giving up just two hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Charlie Self had two hits for the Bucs, and Lawlar had a run-scoring single for the Indians.

The Giants and the A's split a pair of games last week.

Wes Piper went the distance to toss a two-hitter to lead the A's to a 4-1 win over the Giants. Piper struck out nine and walked none.

The A's scored all four of their runs in the fourth. A double by Scott Brown and run-scoring singles by Nick Gionfriddo and Blake Dietrich were key hits in the rally.

Scott Silva tripled home the Giants' only run. Chad Rabello ripped a double.

Erik Rollin and Jake Schonig combined to toss a two-hitter in the Giants' 7-1 win over the A's later in the week. Rollin, Kevin McCarty and Mark Hansen each singled and doubled in the win. Jeremy Bays had two hits, and Rabello doubled.

Brett Davis doubled in the sixth and scored on a single by Matt Hirakawa to lift the Marlins to a 6-5 win over the Expos. Russell Laubach tossed three no-hit innings in the win.

Jeff Delva cracked a two-run double in the fourth and also singled for the Expos. Matt Martini added a double.

Jeret Kasper singled and tripled and Devin Scott ripped a double to lead the Padres to a 12-11 win over the Rangers.

Tommy Towson was three-for-three with a triple in the loss.

In other games played last week, the Padres beat the Rangers on Saturday, and the Giants edged the Indians 4-3 in the culmination of a game suspended earlier in the year.

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