Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Wall helps Los Gatos into the 10-year-old title game

By Dick Sparrer

Rusty Wall was right in the middle of things--at least he was every time the Los Gatos Little League all-stars were scoring runs in the District 12 10-year-old tournament last week.

Los Gatos won a pair of games last week to advance to the tournament championship game, and Wall had five hits and scored six runs in the two games.

Wall played a key role in Los Gatos' 7-0 win over Almaden last weekend. He was three-for-three, scored three runs and knocked in three runs to lead his club to the victory.

It was a big game for Los Gatos, too. The win helped the locals advance to the tournament championship game against Quito, and they had to be beaten twice if they were to surrender the crown.

Los Gatos and Quito were to meet on Monday at the Cambrian Little League field, with an if-necessary game scheduled for Tuesday.

Los Gatos jumped right on Almaden in the first inning. Marty Mullins doubled and raced home on a single by Wall. After David Pavicich walked, Justin Schaefer singled home another run.

Gatos added another in the third. Wall walked and Danny Sullivan singled. Wall eventually scored on an error to make it 3-0.

Derek Thomas, meanwhile, was cruising along with a no-hitter. He faced just 10 batters over the first three innings, walking just one to lead-off the third. He struck out a pair.

Sullivan took over in the fourth, but ran into a bit of a jam when he gave up a pair of singles. Almaden had runners at second and third with one out, but Mullins came through with a big play at third base for the second out. Sullivan fanned the next hitter to get out of trouble, then cruised through the final two innings, striking out three more.

Los Gatos picked up some insurance in the fourth. Danny Frey slapped a pinch hit single to start the rally and Forrest Gallien walked. Mullins singled home a run and Wall singled in two more.

Gatos added a run on errors in the sixth, and held on for the 7-0 win.

Wall led Gatos with the three hits and Mullins singled and doubled. Schafer, Trevor Campbell, Thomas and Frey also singled in the win.

A tight strike zone led to 23 walks in the Los Gatos-Quito game earlier in the week, but Gatos held on to nail a 12-7 victory.

Sullivan was three-for-three and scored a couple of runs and Wall had two hits and scored three times. Louis Santoro singled and doubled, Pavicich had two hits and Schafer doubled. Thomas, Sullivan, Jake Schonig and Mullins shared the pitching duties in the victory.

The game ended with a clutch defensive play by Los Gatos.

Quito loaded the bases with two outs, trailing by six runs. A Quito hitter drilled a run-scoring single to right, but when a second runner tried to score, he was cut down at the plate.

"It was a great play," said LG manager Dan Kropp.

Right fielder A.J. Comeau came up throwing. Mullins took the relay and fired a strike to Schafer, who put on the tag at the plate to end the game.

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