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Photograph by Paul myers
Los Gatos 11-year-old all-star Cole Meyelco races to third during action against Cambrian in the District 12 tournament. Los Gatos beat Cambrian 13-3 and went on to face Almaden in the district title game. Los Gatos lost 5-2 to Almaden.
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Gatos all-stars play for district title
LG 11-year-old all-stars lose to Almaden in district finals
By Dick Sparrer
Two different roads led to the same destination for Los Gatos Little League all-star teams in District 12 tournament play.
But the Los Gatos major division all-stars are hoping for better results when they reach the end of that road this week than their 11-year-old counterparts faced last week.
The Los Gatos 11s lost a 5-2 heartbreaker to Almaden last week to wind up second in the District 12 tournament.
Gatos had lost 5-4 to Branham Hills earlier in the tourney, but fought back through the loser's bracket with wins over Quito, Cambrian Park and Branham Hills to get into the championship against Almaden.
The major division all-stars took a different road to the district title game. Los Gatos is unbeaten in three games, and heads into the championship game this week as the favorite.
Lincoln Glen was to face Almaden on Monday night in an elimination game with the winner to face Los Gatos on Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., at the Quito Little League field at Rolling Hills Middle School in Campbell.
Gatos, as the unbeaten team in the winner's bracket, must be beaten twice to forfeit the crown. The if necessary game is slated for July 18 on the same field.
Los Gatos moved into the finals with an impressive 8-5 win over Almaden last Tuesday.
Woody Wilkerson starred in the game for Gatos. He tossed five innings to get the pitching win and also ripped a solo homer in the second inning. Wilkerson had two hits for Los Gatos.
Kyle Blair came on to pitch the sixth to get the save for Gatos and Bricklin Foley singled and doubled to drive in two runs.
Almaden scored four runs in the second to take an early lead, but Wilkerson homered in the second and Gatos erupted for four runs in the fourth to take the 5-4 lead. Almaden tied it with a solo homer in the fifth, but the locals scored three in the bottom of the fifth to clinch the win.
Los Gatos opened the tournament with a 6-1 win over Quito and edged Willow Glen 6-5 to move into the finals of the winner's bracket.
Things didn't go so well for the Los Gatos 11-year-old all-stars in the district tournament. They lost early in the tourney, but they fought their way back to the championship game.
After beating Quito, Los Gatos beat Cambrian and Branham on back-to-back days last Monday and Tuesday, then had to face Almaden on Wednesday.
K.C. Silva, Dallas Jackson and Tim Trobbe ripped two hits each and Cole Meyelco singled, but Gatos dropped the 5-2 nod to Almaden.
Los Gatos looked to be threatening in the fourth and appeared to pick up a run, but on a controversial call an umpire ruled that a Gatos baserunner was out for interfering with an infielder. The out call stood despite the protests of LG coaches, and the locals ended up losing the decision.
"That was a big, big play for us," said Gatos manager Mike Silva.
Los Gatos had battled from behind for a 12-9 win over Branham to get into the title game. Silva had a big day for the locals with a single, double and triple to drive in five runs, and he was also the winning pitcher with three innings of solid relief.
Branham jumped out to an early 6-1 lead, but Gatos came fighting back with four runs in the second to get close. Lucas deMilo reached on an error with one out and scored on a double by Nick Kalpine. Nick Elias walked, but was forced at second by Blake Morrison.
Garrett Blackwell singled to load the bases, and Silva quickly unloaded them with a three-run triple.
"That inning was huge for us," said the manager.
A two-run double by Silva sparked a four-run fourth. Gatos added two in the fifth and one in the sixth to clinch the win.
"That was a great game," said the manager.
Kalpine singled, doubled and tripled in the win. Blackwell singled and doubled for Gatos and deMilo doubled and drove in three runs. Meyelco and Trobbe added singles.
It was a big five-run third inning rally that sparked Gatos to the 13-3 win over Cambrian. C.J. Olsen tossed three innings to get the pitching win and Morrison finished up.
Dallas had two hits in the game and drove in two runs, and Olsen doubled home a pair. Blackwell, Silva, Paul Politi, deMilo, Meyelco and Elias also had hits in the win.
The big rally in the third came with two outs and turned the game around, according to Silva.
"It was a great inning for us," he said. "We had two outs, but then we got two or three clutch hits. It was a terrific inning."
Despite finishing second in the district, Los Gatos advances to sectional play this week. Gatos was to open the tournament against Watsonville on Monday at the American Little League field.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
