Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Pirates clinch Pony crown

Pony all-stars ready to open tourney play

By Dick Sparrer

The third inning didn't have a real promising start for the Pirates when they battled the Giants in the Los Gatos Pony League championship game last week. Sure, David Fencl of the Pirates opened the inning with a double. But he tried to race all the way home to score on an infield hit by Andy Betzina, Drew Bothman of the Giants threw him out at the plate.

But as disappointing as that out may have been for the Pirates, it didn't keep them from going on to rally for five runs in the frame--a rally that would lead the Pirates to an 11-7 victory and the Pony League crown.

Jeff Oleson walked, Adam Rude was hit by a pitch and John Carlson, Casey Furtado, Trent Edwards and Travis Howell each singled to key the five-run outburst that would ultimately drive the Pirates to the victory.

The Pirates had jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first. Adam Rude reached on a fielder's choice and Trent Edwards singled, then both worked their way around to score.

Brian Miguel got one back for the Giants in the bottom of the frame when he walked, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on an errant pickoff try.

Rude singled, swiped second and scored on a single by Edwards to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead in the second, but once more the Giants answered right back. Drew Bothman belted a triple to lead off the bottom of the second and scored on a wild pitch.

That set the stage for what proved the game-winning rally in the third for the Pirates.

The Giants managed a run in the third on a double by Miguel and a run-scoring single by Matt Cooke. But after a scoreless fourth, the Pirates virtually put the game away with three runs in the fifth. Fencl's single, his second hit of the day, was the key hit in the rally.

But the Giants wouldn't quit. They added two in the fifth and two more in the sixth but came up four runs short.

Will Biderman and Miguel each singled, and Cooke walked to open the fifth. Tyler Wilson ripped a run-scoring single, and Bothman drove in the second run with a double.

Jason Mack and J.P. Bellotti each walked to open the sixth. Miguel singled in a run, and Chris McMorrow and Wilson each walked to force in another run.

Edwards had three hits and also tossed the final inning for the Pirates. Fencl singled and doubled and Betzina, Rude, Carlson, Furtado, Howell and Darien Hiratsu added hits in the win.

Bothman singled, doubled and tripled for the Giants, and Miguel doubled and singled twice. Cooke, Biderman, Wilson and Brandon Burks also had singles.

The Pirates had clinched the spot in the title game with a tight 3-2 win over the Marlins.

Alex Anderson ripped a solo homer to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead, but the Pirates answered with a run in the fourth. Rude doubled but was held at third on a double by Edwards. Howell was walked intentionally to load the bases, but Rude was gunned out at the plate on a failed squeeze attempt. Edwards scored on a passed ball.

Howell, the Pirates' catcher, gunned down a pair of Marlins attempting to steal in the top of the fifth, then the Pirates iced the win with two runs in the fifth.

Rude singled and Edwards walked to open the frame. Howell and Fencl followed with run-scoring singles.

Fencl tossed five innings to get the pitching win for the Pirates, striking out eight. Edwards finished up, fanning five of the six batters he faced over the final two frames.

Rude singled and doubled, Edwards doubled and Howell, Fencl and Nathan Fillhardt each singled for the Pirates in the win.

Anderson singled and homered for the Marlins and Anthony Burks had two hits. Patrick Murphy added a single.

The Giants had beaten the Marlins 12-5 to advance to the finals against the Pirates.

Bothman blasted a three-run triple in the first and Miguel clubbed a solo homer to lead the Giants to the victory.

Bothman, McMorrow and Mack each had two hits and Burks ripped a double. Wilson also singled for the Giants and Biderman doubled.

Burks singled and doubled for the Marlins and Evan McDonald had two hits. Murphy belted a double and Anderson, Chris Eagen and Trevor Adams each singled.

McMorrow tossed five innings to get the mound win, striking out 12.

Pony 13 all-stars

Los Gatos will host the Pony League 13-year-old's all-star tournament July 3-7 at Fisher Middle School. Gatos opens on July 3, 5 p.m., against Santa Clara.

Members of the team include Andrew Betzina, Casey Furtado and Travis Howell of the Pirates; Alex Rollin, Adam Nelson and Kyle Schafer of the Braves; Drew Bothman of the Giants; Adam Crane and Carter Wallace of the Yankees; Ryan Daily, James Gentry and Bryan Schiefelbein of the Cardinals; Andrew O'Gorman of the Marlins; and Bret Roberts of the Dodgers. The manager is Gary Cook of the Giants, and the coach is Joe Cerrito of the Yankees.

The admission cost for the tournament is $3 for adults and 1$ for children and seniors.

Pony 14 all-stars

Los Gatos will host the 14-year-old's Northern California Regional tournament at Fisher July 26-Aug. 3.

Members of the team include Alex Anderson and Chris Eagen of the Marlins; Trevor Branon and Daniel Holtzman of the Braves; Charlie Clark and Anthony Frangadakis of the Yankees; Trent Edwards and Adam Rude of the Pirates; Jayson Furia and Stephen Sweeney of the Cardinals; Chris McMorrow and Brian Miguel of the Giants; and Kris Zanotto of the Dodgers.

The manager is Bill Frey of the Pirates, and his coaches are John Lassiter, Andy Edwards and Bill Donnelly of the Pirates.

The Gatos 14-year-old's Sectional Tournament team includes Trevor Adams and Evan McDonald of the Marlins; J.P. Bellotti and Matt Cooke of the Giants; David Fencl and Geno Gingery of the Pirates; Nickolas Fraboni, James Furlo, Kyle Laubach and Nick Russell of the Dodgers; Wayne Hopp and Cal Sturgis of the Braves; and Ben Sandigo of the Yankees.

The manager is Louie DesRochers of the Braves, and the coach is Mike Valasco of the Marlins. Their tournament runs July 16-24.

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