The Quito Little League 8-year-olds won the title in the Quito Invitational. Members of the team include (l-r) Nick Della Rocchetta, Willie Judson, Matt Hawkins, Jason Pechar, Joseph Dickerson, Andrew Schick, Ian Smith, Sean O'Neill, Thomas de Angelis, Anthony Caselli, Dean Clark and Eric Chang. Coaches are (l-r) Bob Smith, Keith Pechar and Francis Dickerson.
By Dick Sparrer
They won't head down the road to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.--not yet anyway.
But the Quito Little League 8-year-old tournament team wrapped up the season with a tourney championship nonetheless.
These were the all-stars of the future, and they got together at the Quito Invitational at Westmont to get a taste of the all-star play that they no doubt will experience in the years to come.
Host Quito met Union in the tournament championship game, and the hometown boys pulled out a 6-4 victory to clinch the tourney title.
Thomas de Angelis and Dean Clark handled the pitching chores for Quito in the title game. De Angelis was also the hitting star for the champs, ripping a double and single to drive in two runs and he scored two more.
Eric Chang had two hits for the champs and Joseph Dickerson singled and scored a key run in a four-run rally in the fourth.
Jamie Wagner struck out eight in four innings of work for Union.
Union had opened the tourney with three straight wins, and Quito won two of three to open tournament play. Because of a tourney tiebreaker, Quito went on to play Union for the championship.
Campbell "Blue" and Willow Glen were each 2-1 early in the tourney and ended up battling it out for third place in the consolation game. Willow Glen battled from behind to pull out an 8-7 victory.
Jason Jeffrey and Grant Fowler scored two runs apiece and were each on base three times in the win. Brandon Gossman was also on base three times and scored a run.
Fowler had blasted a 175-foot home run for Willow Glen a day earlier in a win over Campbell "Red."
Campbell "Blue" pitcher Brett Helmonds gave up just two runs in four innings in the third-place game. He led the charge at the plate with a single and triple.
Willow Glen's Danny Dyer tossed nine innings in the tournament, striking out 23 and walking just six. He was touched for just a single run on one hit.
Union's Danny Sullivan was equally as impressive, fanning 19 and walking only four in his time on the mound. He also allowed just a run on one hit.
Teams from the Almaden and American Little Leagues joined Quito, Campbell, Union and Willow Glen in the seven-team tournament. Campbell entered two teams in the event. Los Gatos and Saratoga were also invited, but did not enter teams.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, July 17, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved