Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Politi's run gives Cubs championship crown

By Dick Sparrer

Danny Politi stole home in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the Cubs a 4-3 win over the Pirates in the Los Gatos Little League major division championship game.

Politi had opened the eighth with a double and moved to third on a sharp single by Ryan Presley. With two outs, Politi took off for home on a delayed steal when the Pirates' catcher tossed the ball back to the pitcher, and he was safe for the game winner.

The win marked a remarkable showing for the Cubs in the Little League playoffs. The Cubbies had finished third in the regular season behind the Pirates and Yankees, but they won four straight games to claim the title--beating the Bucs twice.

The Cubs beat the Pirates in a 3-2 thriller on Tuesday, then came back with the exciting 4-3 win in extra innings on Saturday.

The Pirates went up 1-0 in the third when Dylan Burke singled, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Daniel Silva and scored on a triple by Logan Schafer.

But the Cubs answered right back. Kenny Rodrigues walked with one out in the third, but was forced at second by Politi., who came all the way around to score when Presley reached on an error.

The Bucs went up again with two in the fifth. Justin Schafer walked and moved to second on a sacifice by Danny Frey. L. Schafer singled before Andrew Silva singled home a run. J.P. Grist lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center, and the Pirates led 3-1.

But once more the Cubs rallied to tie it. Nick Politi reached on an error before D. Politi beat out an infield hit. Presley doubled to the rightfield corner to score both baserunners. That set the stage for Politi's heroics in the eighth. He doubled to open the inning, took second on the Presley single and then stole home to win the game.

Politi had tossed a four-hitter in the Cubs' 3-2 win over the Pirates earlier in the week. He struck out six and walked three.

The Cubs and the Pirates were locked in a scoreless tie through five innings before the Pirates finally scored two in the sixth.

Matt Seymour doubled and scored on a double by Grist, who later scored on an error.

Just as they would a few days later, the Cubs came fighting back. Jordan Senner brought up chalk with a double down the rightfield line. Rodrigues walked and D. Politi singled to load the bases. Presley doubled in two runs, and Politi ended up scoring the game-winner on a passed ball.

Sean Fetke doubled in the win for the Cubs, and L. Schafer tripled for the Pirates.

Cory Graham was the hardluck loser for the Pirates. He tossed a five-hitter, fanning nine and walking just one.

The Cubs had opened the playoffs with an exciting 2-1 win over the Marlins in seven innings. Presley drove in both runs with a solo homer in the third and a run-scoring triple in the seventh. Spencer Maltbie also had two hits in the win.

Brett Davis had two hits, including a double in the fourth that knocked home Mark Erickson.

D. Politi, Senner and Presley combined to toss a shutout for the Cubs in a 3-0 win over the Yankees. Singles by Fetke and D. Politi, a two-run double by Presley and a run-scoring ground out by Tyler Carnathan accounted for all three Cubs runs in the first.

N. Politi hit two for the Cubs, and Nathan Swartley hit two for the Yankees.

Charlie Self and Derek Thomas locked up in a pitcher's duel when the Pirates and Yanks met up in the final game of the loser's bracket. The two were locked in a scoreless tie through six innings. Self gave up just one hit and struck out seven for the Pirates, and Thomas fanned 10 and allowed just two hits.

Grist came on to blank the Yankees the rest of the way, and he picked up the win when Self crushed a two-run homer to center field in the ninth. Grist allowed just three hits and struck out six.

Final Los Gatos Little League regular season standings: Pirates 17-1, Yankees 13-5, Cubs 11-7, Giants 10-8, Expos 9-9, Indians 9-9, Marlins 9-9, A's 7-11, Padres 4-14, Rangers 1-17.

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