Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

The Los Gatos 9-year-old all-stars finished second in the District 12 tournament. Danny Sullivan (above) and Spencer Lopes teamed to toss a four-hitter in an 11-2 win over Quito.

Good run for Gatos 9s

Local all-stars nail second in district

By Dick Sparrer

They played more games than any other team in the tournament, and they won more games than any team in the tourney.

But the Los Gatos Little League 9-year-old all-stars had to settle for second place in the District 12 tournament when they lost 11-1 to Almaden in the tourney championship game.

"It was a good run," said manager Randy Frey after his Los Gatos club won five of seven games in the tournament.

Los Gatos battled back from a loss to Almaden to beat Union 11-2 and Quito 8-6 to get to the title game against Almaden. The local kids were locked in a tight 2-1 game through three innings in the finals before Almaden broke the game open with nine runs in the fourth.

"They were a good team, and they played great defense," said Frey of the Almaden 'stars, who won four straight games to clinch the title.

"But this a good group," he said of his own club. "You're going to hear from this group again."

Los Gatos pounded Union 11-2 to stay alive in the tourney. Danny Sullivan and Spencer Lopes shared a four-hitter for the victory.

Louis Santoro sparked a four-run rally in the second with a run-scoring single, and Gatos took command of the game with three in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

A triple by Forest Gallien and singles by Santoro and Trevor Campbell keyed the rally in the third, and singles by Matt Perrone and Sullivan helped Gatos score two runs in the fourth.

David Pavicich doubled in the win.

Los Gatos won an 8-6 thriller over Quito to earn a place in the title game. Perrone and Robbie Couchee tossed three innings apiece in the win.

Quito jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two runs in the first and two more in the second, but Gatos tied with four in the fourth.

Couchee walked and Justin Schafer singled before Danny Frey came through with a clutch two-run single. Perrone kept the rally alive with a single, and Marty Mullins singled home a pair to tie it.

Los Gatos broke the tie with four more in the fifth. Couchee and Sullivan opened the inning with singles and Schafer walked. Gallien pushed in a run when he was hit by a pitch, and Perrone singled one home. Mullins then singled in two more.

Quito scored two in the bottom of the sixth, but Gatos hung on for the 8-6 win.

Sullivan singled and doubled, but Los Gatos dropped the 11-1 nod to Almaden in the championship game. Campbell ripped a run-scoring single and Frey singled to round out the four-hit.

The four-hit effort was unusual for Los Gatos. The local 'stars posted a .383 team batting average in the seven tournament games.

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