Gatos 11-year-old 'stars claim Section 5 title

Avenge previous loss

By Dick Sparrer

It's not easy to win a championship in a double-elimination tournament after falling into the loser's bracket.

But, then, no worthwhile accomplishment is ever easy.

The Los Gatos Little League 11-year-old all-stars certainly know that. Because they came through with just such an accomplishment in the recent Section 5 tournament held at the American Little League field.

Los Gatos lost 6-1 to Campbell to slip into the elimination bracket, but the local all-stars fought their way back to the finals, then beat Campbell two straight to win the sectional crown.

Gatos beat Campbell 5-1 to force the "if needed" game in the tournament, then came back with an impressive 12-0 win over Campbell to claim the tourney championship.

"To battle back from the loser's bracket and beat a very good team back-to-back shows the character the kids have," said Los Gatos manager Mike Silva. "They battled hard every game and never gave up. In the end, they were rewarded for their efforts."

Los Gatos earned its place in the Section 5 event by placing second to Almaden after a couple of hard-fought battles in the District 12 tourney. And once there, the LG kids started to roll.

Gatos knocked off Salspuedes 8-4 and beat Cupertino American 7-4. The 6-1 loss to Campbell sent Los Gatos into the loser's bracket, but they fought back with a tight 5-4 win over rival Almaden to get another shot at Campbell.

Los Gatos opened with a 5-1 win over Campbell, then clinched the Section 5 championship with the 12-0 win.

Blake Morrison tossed a two-hit shutout in the championship-clinching win, despite pulling a muscle in his leg.

Paul Politi led a nine-hit attack for Los Gatos with two doubles and a single. He knocked in two runs and scored four.

Garrett Blackwell, K.C. Silva, C.J. Olsen, Jackson Dallas, Nicky Chow and Morrison each singled and drove in runs for Los Gatos in the win. Mike Denevi also knocked in a run in the game.

The big inning for the Los Gatos 'stars was the fifth when they turned six hits and five walks into a nine-run rally.

"This was a total team effort," said Silva of the Gatos performance. "We started out as individuals and ended up as close teammates."

Los Gatos set up the final game with a 5-1 win over Campbell a game earlier.

Olsen went the distance to flip a six-hitter, striking out three and giving up just a single run.

Silva was the offensive star with two doubles and a single to drive in a couple of runs.

Blackwell and Politi ripped two hits apiece in the win and Olsen, Chow and Morrison had one each.

Gatos broke the game open with four runs in the third. Blackwell singled and Silva doubled before Politi and Olsen each ripped run-scoring singles. Dallas drove in a run with a ground out.

The local all-stars fought their way out of the elimination bracket with a 5-4 win over their district nemesis, Almaden.

The game was tied 4-4 in the sixth when Tim Trobbe singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by Chow and scored on a single by Politi.

Olsen and Nick Kalpin had two hits apiece in the win. Silva, Politi, Dallas, Trobbe and Chow also had hits.

Olsen tossed three innings of scoreless relief to get the win. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.

Morrison went the first three innings for Los Gatos, giving up just three hits and fanning five.

Almaden tied the game 4-4 with a run in the top of the fourth, but diving plays by Silva and Kalpin helped Gatos get out of the jam. The locals then won it in the bottom of the inning.

Olsen was 3-for-3, Silva and Dallas each singled and doubled, and Blackwell had two hits in the 8-4 win over Salspuedes in the tourney opener. Denevi, Trobbe and Lucas deMilo also had hits for Los Gatos.

Morrison and Olsen combined to toss a seven-hitter for the win. Olsen whiffed five in his three-inning stint.

Blackwell singled in a run and Silva doubled home two in a four-run rally in the second for Los Gatos.

The locals took control of the game in the fifth. Olsen singled and scored on a double by Dallas. Trobbe and Denevi also singled home runs in the inning.

Silva singled and doubled, and Blackwell had two hits to lead Gatos to a 7-4 win over Cupertino American. Politi doubled and Danny Wall tripled in the win and Olsen, Chow and Denevi each singled.

Morrison gave up just a run in three innings of work, striking out three in his stint. Silva came on in relief of Olsen to get Cupertino out one-two-three in the sixth.

Back-to-back doubles by Silva and Politi opened the gates for a three-run rally in the third and Blackwell and Denevi each singled ahead of Wall's two-run triple in the fourth.

Things didn't go too well in the first game against Campbell. Olsen singled and doubled and Dallas had two hits, but Los Gatos lost 6-1. Silva doubled in the game.

But Los Gatos got its revenge later in the tournament, winning two straight to claim the Section 5 championship.

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