Saratoga News

Photograph by Christian del Rosario

Saratoga third sacker Michael Sabes puts the tag on this Branham Hills baserunner. Sabes later scored the winning run in Saratoga's 15-14 victory.

All-stars fall in finals

By Dick Sparrer

Teams didn't want to pitch to Jonathan Durket in the District 12 ten-year-old all-star tournament.

And for good reason--the Saratoga Little League star ended up with an impressive .688 batting average in the six games of the tournament.

The Union Little League all-stars wouldn't pitch to him in the tournament championship games, and Branham Hills didn't want to pitch to him in the district semifinals. Unfortunately for the Branham 'stars, though, they had no choice.

The game was tied 14-14 heading into the bottom of the sixth, and Saratoga loaded the bases. Durket stepped to the plate, and there was no place Branham could put him.

He drilled a shot to deep left field to drive in Michael Sabes with the game-winning run, and Saratoga was off to the tournament finals.

The local boys lost a 6-3 heartbreaker to Union to force an "if necessary" game in the double-elimination tournament, then Union won again 13-4 to win the tourney crown.

The two tough losses left Saratoga with a 4-2 record and in second place in the tournament, but manager Matt Durket isn't complaining.

"This was just an incredible team," he said of his 10-year-old all-stars. "The best thing is that it wasn't just a good team, but these kids were all very, very good friends. It was a great experience."

The highlight of the tournament had to be the 15-14 win over Branham Hills in the finals of the winner's bracket.

Saratoga took a commanding 14-7 lead into the final inning, but Branham scored seven runs to tie the game. Phillip Spencer came on in relief to retire the side, and the local boys needed a run in the home half of the frame to keep the game from going to extra innings. Sabes reached on an error, and Jason Harp followed with a single. Spencer walked to load the bases, and Durket ended it with his sac fly to deep left.

"What was incredible," said the manager, "is that these kids never gave up."

Even after Branham's big rally to tie the game, "they just couldn't wait to hit," Durket said.

Spencer tripled and singled twice, and Tyler Rothenberg ripped a double and two singles to lead the offensive attack. Durket singled and doubled and also knocked in the game winning run with the sac fly. Branham had jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Saratoga battled back to tie it 5-5. The clubs shared rallies until the sixth when Saratoga pulled out the win.

"It was a scary one," said Durket.

Saratoga lost 6-4 to Union a game later.

The locals lost 13-4 to Union a night later.

Peter Rutti tossed a complete game for Saratoga.

Durket hit .688 (11 for 16) with six runs-batted-in in the tournament, and Kyle Stoffers hit .500 (7 for 14). Spencer finished up hitting .450, Harp .389 and Rothenberg .368. Saratoga boasted a team batting average of .374.

Nathan Carroll, Chris Charles, Alex Riccomini, Austin Hary, Danny Wallace and Ben Coggins were other members of the talented Saratoga squad.

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