Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Saratoga's John Anderson (21) is greeted at home plate by his teammates after blasting a home run against Los Gatos in the District 12 12-year-old all-star tournament. Saratoga ended up losing 13-5 to Gatos, then lost 7-2 to Branham Hills to fall out of the tourney.

LG off to hot start in tourney

Quito drops its opener and Saratoga faces elimination

By Dick Sparrer

To say that LG is off to a hot start in the District 12 12-year-old all-star tournament is certainly true, but it's also somewhat misleading.

Sure, LG opened the tournament with back-to-back wins last week, but even that statement has something of a double meaning.

Because LG could stand for Los Gatos or Lincoln Glen in this District 12 event. Both are entrants in the tourney, and both won a pair of games last week to get off to a strong start in the all-star event.

Los Gatos pounded Saratoga 13-5 and then blanked Quito 5-0 to open the tournament with two victories.

And Lincoln Glen started play with a 14-5 win over Branham Hills, then edged Almaden 3-2.

Despite their like performances, Lincoln Glen actually sits in a better position in the tournament though, by virtue of placement in the bracket. The San Jose club will play in the finals of the winner's bracket on July 18, 11:30 a.m., at the Los Gatos Little League field, but Gatos must win another game to get there.

Los Gatos was to face Cambrian on July 14, 5:30 p.m., with the winner moving into the Saturday game against Lincoln Glen.

Gatos tagged Quito with its first loss of the tourney, despite a solid showing by Danny Sizemore.

Sizemore, the nephew of Oak Grove football coach Ed Buller, gave up a walk with one out in the first, but that was the only baserunner he would allow through the first three innings.

Gatos, though, picked up two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to claim the 5-0 win.

Singles by Sizemore and Scott Elliott were the only hits Quito could muster in the game.

Quito will take on the winner of Monday's American-Willow Glen game on July 16, 5:30 p.m., at Los Gatos. The winner of that game moves on to a 9 a.m. clash on Saturday with Almaden, and the loser faces elimination from the tourney.

Saratoga falls

Saratoga dropped out of the District 12 tourney with two straight losses last week. Saratoga lost 13-5 to Los Gatos, then lost 7-2 to Branham Hills.

John Anderson and Stephen Azzi each blasted home runs to keep Saratoga in the game early against Los Gatos, but the host club pulled away to win the game by eight runs.

Gatos picked up a couple of runs in the first, but Anderson answered right back in the home half of the inning. The first two hitters struck out, and Anderson had a two-strike count when he blasted a solo homer.

Los Gatos bombarded Saratoga with eight runs in the second to take a 10-1 lead, but there was no quit in this Saratoga bunch.

Azzi led off the Saratoga second with a homer to get a run back. Paul Sprague singled before Mark Almassy and Joel Rottman each walked to load the bases. After a couple of strikeouts, Jay New ripped a two-run double to trim the Gatos lead to 10-4.

Los Gatos scored two more runs in the third, but once again Saratoga battled right back. Almassy slapped a run-scoring single to make it 12-5.

But Gatos scored again in the fourth and held off Saratoga the rest of the way to clinch the victory.

Saratoga had six hits in the game, the homers by Anderson and Azzi, the double by New and singles by Almassy, Sprague and Greg Henderson.

Saratoga was knocked out of the tournament a game later with a 7-2 loss to Branham Hills.

Chris Hornberger singled twice to drive in both of the Saratoga runs in the game. Anderson singled and doubled for 'Toga and Andrew Rogan doubled and scored a run in the second. Almassy, Chris Rogan and New added singles for Saratoga.

Adam Zarate, Matt Weidert and Jack Wilson were other members of the Saratoga 12-year-old all-star team. Reed Hornberger was the club's manager and Bob Patterson and John New were his coaches.

District 12

12-year-old division: Union 6, American 2; Los Gatos 13, Saratoga 5; Lincoln Glen 14, Branham Hills 5; Almaden 7, Union 4; Los Gatos 5, Quito 0; Cambrian 1, Willow Glen 0; Branham Hills 7, Saratoga 2; Lincoln Glen 3, Almaden 2.

Games this week

Monday, July 13-- American vs. Willow Glen, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 14-- Los Gatos vs. Cambrian, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 15-- Branham Hills vs. Union, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 16-- Quito vs. Monday winner, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, July 17-- Tuesday loser vs. Wednesday winner, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 18-- Almaden vs. Thursday winner, 9 a.m., Lincoln Glen vs. Tuesday winner, 11:30 a.m.

(Elimination games will be played on Monday and Tuesday, July 20 and 21, with the championship game scheduled for July 22 and an if-necessary game scheduled for July 23. All games are played at the home of the Los Gatos Little League at Baggerly Field in Blossom Hill Park.)

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