Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Saratoga's Erick Raich races safely across first base in action last week at Los Gatos. The Falcons lost twice to the Wildcats, losing 17-15 on Monday at Saratoga and 7-6 on Wednesday at Los Gatos.
No. 13 proves lucky for Shen
Falcons fall twice to the Wildcats
By Dick Sparrer
Richard Shen wears No. 13 for the Lynbrook baseball team.
But unlucky 13 was anything but for the senior infielder last week. Shen lashed out five hits in two games to lead the Vikings to back-to-back wins in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
Shen singled and tripled to help the Vikings to a 7-2 win over Homestead to open the week, and he came back with three hits in a tight 5-4 upset win over first-place Gunn two days later.
The two wins helped the Vikings improve to 4-8 in the division and to 5-9 for the year.
Shen was the hitting star, and Brandon Bencomo and Brian Seip shared the pitching duties in the win over Homestead to open the week.
Bencomo and Seip limited Homestead to just five hits in the game. Bencomo picked up the mound win, improving his record to 2-0, and Seip came on to get the save.
Shen had the two hits for the Vikings. Eric Barnes doubled, and Brodie Maag knocked in two runs for Lynbrook.
Shen came back with three hits and Seip singled and doubled to lead the Vikings to the impressive win over Gunn two days later.
Matt Fratus chipped in with a double, and he was also the winning pitcher for the Vikings. Fratus is now 3-1 for the year.
The loss to Lynbrook was the first of two league losses for the Mustangs last week. Homestead dropped a 3-0 decision to Mountain View later in the week, despite a strong mound showing by David Attard. The senior right hander tossed a seven-hitter, but his teammates could support him with just a pair of singles.
Falcons fall
The Saratoga baseball team unloaded on Overfelt for a 20-5 nonleague victory last Friday. But the win was little consolation for the Falcons, who lost twice to rival Los Gatos in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.
The Falcons lost a 17-15 slugfest to the Wildcats to open the week, then lost 7-6 to the Cats two days later.
Saratoga led 6-5 and was outhitting Gatos 11-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Cats loaded the bases with two outs, then pulled out the thrilling win when Ben Shanker lined a 1-2 pitch into right field for a two-run single.
The loss dropped the Falcons to 6-5-1 in the division. They still hold second place in the circuit, but now have just a half game lead over Los Gatos.
Saratoga entered the week as the only team with a shot at catching first-place Wilcox. But Los Gatos foiled those hopes with the two wins.
Matt Joyce homered and singled to lead the 10-hit attack for the Falcons in the 17-15 loss. Adam Varteressian doubled twice to knock in four runs for Saratoga, and Erick Raich doubled twice to drive in three runs. John Vartanian added two hits for the Falcons, and Brian Stirm plated three runs.
Jim Huether homered and doubled to knock in a couple of runs, and Caleb Mosley drove in two runs with two doubles and a single, but the Falcons lost the second game 7-6. Mike Cook singled and doubled for Saratoga.
The Falcons came out swinging again on Friday, and this time made their hits good for a 20-5 nonleague win over the Royals. Saratoga pushed its record to 8-8-3 with the win.
Cook homered, tripled and singled to drive in five runs for Saratoga in the victory. Mosley doubled twice and singled to knock in three runs, and Joyce doubled home a pair.
Stirm tripled for the Falcons, and Huether drove home two runs.
Mike Cable was the winning pitcher.
Saratoga will be back on the diamond this week to host Piedmont Hills on April 19, 3:30 p.m., in a game that's part of the St. Francis Tournament, then the Falcons head to Wilcox on April 21, 3:30 p.m., for a De Anza Division game.
Prospect in first
The Prospect baseball team scored two runs in the seventh to pull out a 9-8 win over Gunderson last week. With the win, the Panthers improved their division-leading record to 10-2 in the Santa Teresa circuit.
Curtis Wills was the star of the day for the Panthers. Wills singled, doubled and homered, knocking in two runs, and he was also the winning pitcher. Mark Bonvecchio doubled and homered to drive in two runs, and Chris Hesenflow ripped a two-run homer. Adrian Wise singled and doubled, and Derrick Yamada and J.D. Mazzuca each had two hits.
The Panthers are now 11-5 for the year.
In other local baseball action, Westmont lost twice last week in the Mt. Hamilton Division, falling 5-4 to Leigh in nine innings and 8-3 to first-place Valley Christian.
Bill Stouffer singled and doubled to drive in two runs, and Ben Peterson singled and doubled for the Warriors against Leigh. Adam Antolin and Travis Cheney also had two hits apiece in the loss.
Westmont slipped to 1-7 in division play with the 8-3 loss to Valley.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
