The Saratoga 9-year-old all-star team won the District 12 championship. Members of the team included (front row, l-r) Chris Lea, Matt Murray, Michael McGinnis, Tony Lewis, Matt Morales, Daniel Polini, Andrew Lee, Jonathan Hurrell, Grant Thomas, Will Sparks, Nick Dere and Taylor Trah, and (back row, l-r) coach Tim Sparks, coach Ron Lewis, manager Colin Morales and coach Jim Trah.
Saratoga wins two district titles
By Dick Sparrer
The future looks bright for the Saratoga Little League. And the present doesn't look too bad either! Saratoga 9-year-old all-star team and 8-year-old tournament team each won titles recently in District 12 tournament play--not bad for a league whose success at the district level through the years has been limited to say the least.
The 9-year-old all-stars clinched the district crown with a 11-8 win over Lincoln Glen, and 8-year-olds beat Almaden 5-3 in the championship game to win the district tournament.
The two tourney titles came just a couple of weeks after Saratoga's Blue Jays won the District 12 minor division Tournament of Champions.
Nine-year-olds
Saratoga knocked off Lincoln Glen in two of three games in the district tournament, including a come-from-behind 11-8 extra-inning win in the championship game.
Saratoga trailed the Glenners 7-4 after four innings, but rallied for four runs in the fifth to take an 8-7 lead.
Lincoln Glen tied it with a run in the bottom of the frame and had its best hitter at the plate with the bags loaded. But Saratoga hurler Michael McGinnis struck him out on a 3-2 pitch to get out of the jam.
The locals scored three runs in the top of the seventh to go back in front 11-8, but Lincoln Glen loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh.
Left fielder Daniel Polini came through with the defensive play of the game to end the threat, though. Polini made a diving catch on a fly ball and threw to second for a double play to end the game in thrilling fashion.
Saratoga won four of five games in the tournament, outscoring its opponents 55-29.
Will Sparks and Matt Murray helped get Saratoga off to a fast start in the tourney when they combined to throw a no-hitter at Los Gatos. The locals went on to beat Lincoln Glen and Cambrian Park to reach the tournament finals.
Unbeaten Saratoga would have to lose twice to forfeit the championship, and Lincoln Glen came through with an 11-8 win to force the if necessary game. But Saratoga came right back with an 11-8 win of its own to clinch the tourney title.
"Throughout the tournament, Saratoga relied on timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, solid pitching and defense and a never say die attitude," said coach Tim Sparks, "and [the championship] game was no exception."
Every member of the team contributed to the win over Lincoln Glen with a key play or hit at some point in the game," Sparks added.
After the game, Manager Colin Morales delivered on his promise to get a 'buzz' cut if the team won the tournament."
Morales directed the efforts of the squad along with his coaches Sparks, Ron Lewis and Jim Trah.
Members of the championship team included Murray, McGinnis, Polini, W. Sparks, Chris Lea, Tony Lewis, Matt Morales, Andrew Lee, Jonathan Hurrell, Grant Thomas, Nick Dere and Taylor Trah.
Saratoga's 8-year-old tournament team won the District 12 championship. Members of the team include Ricky Ramirez, Kevin Smith, Mason Anchondo, Austin Pridham, Andrew Barna, Greg Johnson, David McPartland, David Beam, Brandon Morales, Chris Guengerich, Dillan Pak, Kevin Darchuk, Kevin Sweeney and Brandon Campbell. Steve Guengerich was the club's manager and Keith Barna, Greg Johnson and Shelley Smith were his coaches.
Eight-year-olds
Little League does not sanction all-star play at the 8-year-old level, but teams at that age level are allowed to compete in non-sanctioned tournaments.
And it was Saratoga winning that tournament recently with a 5-3 win over Almaden.
Saratoga opened the tourney with a 3-1 win over Union, then pounded rival Los Gatos 8-2. The local kids knocked off Cambrian Park 8-5, when topped Almaden in the championship game.
Pitchers Ricky Ramirez, Kevin Smith, Mason Anchondo and Austin Pridham tossed Saratoga to the four wins. Andrew Barna and Greg Johnson contributed with solid catching and timely hitting.
David McPartland, David Beam and Brandon Morales were defensive standouts for the champs and Chris Guengerich, Dillan Pak, Kevin Darchuk, Kevin Sweeney and Brandon Campbell supported both offensively and defensively.
"The kids really pulled together and played great as a team," said manager Steve Guengerich. "They were only together for two weeks, but it was as if they had been playing together all year."
Saratoga, California Since 1955
