Saratoga golfers two-time Los Gatos in El Camino play

By Dick Sparrer

Most of the time, Los Gatos and Saratoga are pretty friendly neighbors.

But that friendship was strained a bit last week when golf teams from the two local high school got together for a little action on the local fairways.

Saratoga two-timed Los Gatos in a couple of matches in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. The Falcons whipped the Wildcats 199-220 at the LaRinconada Country Club, then handled the Cats once more 206-211 at the Saratoga Country Club.

Robert Pfeifer fired a low 37 on his home course in Saratoga to lead the Falcons to the Monday win. Daniel Ruby finished at 40, with Jacob Vigil at 42, Kevin Nabbefeld at 43 and Brian Mann at 44.

Vigil was the low man at 38 in Saratoga's win over the Wildcats on their home course at LaRinconada. Ruby, Mann and Nabbefeld each carded a 40, and Pfeifer finished at 41.

Saratoga, 7-0 for the year, wrapped up the week with a 160-171 win over Lynbrook at the Deep Cliff Golf Course in Cupertino. Mann led the way, shooting even par at 30 for the Falcons. Ruby fired a 31, and Vigil, Pfeifer and Michael Mann each shot a 33.

Benzing leads Vikes

In El Camino Division girls softball play last week, Lynbrook rallied from behind to beat Homestead 3-1, and Monta Vista lost a 9-8 heartbreaker to Santa Clara.

Sophomore hurler Stacey Benzing went the distance to toss a 6-hitter to lead Lynbrook to the 3-1 win over the Mustangs. Benzing struck out 10 in the game and was touched for just a single run in the third.

But it was that run that gave Homestead the lead until the fifth. Lynbrook took control, though, with three runs in the top of the fifth to help make Benzing a winner. She evened her pitching record at 2-2.

Senior Chrissy Bailey led the bat attack with a couple of hits, and she drove home all three runs for the Vikings.

Lynbrook evened its season record at 7-7 and upped its El Camino Division mark to 3-2 with the win. The Vikings will visit Monta Vista at 3:30 p.m., April 13, for their only game this week.

The Matadors are also 3-2 in the division after losing a tough 9-8 nod in nine innings to unbeaten Santa Clara last week.

Westmont, meanwhile, lost 3-2 to Leland in the Mission Tournament.

Falcons top Vikes

The Saratoga baseball team is 10-5-2 for the year and 7-1-1 in league play after beating Lynbrook 3-2 in eight innings last week in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL.

Ryan Quadro was the hard-luck loser for the Vikings when he was touched for a single run in the home half of the eighth against the Falcons.

Jason Worden was the winning pitcher for Saratoga in the game. The 6-foot-2 righthander is now 4-2 for the year.

Robin Gill, Jim Heuther and Ryan Bernard each singled and doubled to lead a nine-hit attack for the Falcons.

Saratoga took the early lead with two runs in the third, but Lynbrook tied it with two in the top of the fourth. That's how it remained until the eighth, when Saratoga scored the game-winner.

The Falcons will take a break from league play this week, but will squad off with Homestead at 3:30 p.m. on April 16 in a nonleague game. Saratoga returns to El Camino Division action on April 20 at home against Santa Clara.

The Vikings are home for two 3:30 p.m. games this week when they host Palo Alto on April 13 and Gunn on April 15.

Panthers over Overfelt

In nonleague play last week, Prospect rallied for three runs in the sixth to pull out a tight 3-2 victory over Overfelt.

Carlos Velasquez was the winning pitcher for the Panthers, who held the Royals to just three hits in the game. Velasquez is now 1-0.

Darrell Jacks and Jason Struble slapped two hits apiece to lead an eight-hit assault for the Panthers.

The Royals broke open a scoreless battle with two runs in the top half of the sixth, but Prospect answered right back with three runs in the home half of the inning. The Panthers held Overfelt scoreless in the seventh to clinch the win.

Prospect improved to 8-6 for the year with the victory.

Falcons fall

The Saratoga tennis team droped a 5-2 decision to Los Altos in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL last week.

James Chao and Amit Modi posted a 7-6, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles and Scott Swanberg, and Justin Sung won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 for Saratoga's only victories of the day.

The Falcons are now 5-2 in division play.

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