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Saratoga's Jeff DeBarr slides safely into second in his club's 13-1 win over Cambrian. DeBarr's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh against Willow Glen helped Saratoga clinch fourth place in the District 12 tournament.
Photgraph by Mark Kocina
Banner year for Saratoga LL
Major division 'stars fourth in district
By Dick Sparrer
It was indeed a banner year for the Saratoga Little League--in more ways than one. Saratoga teams won three District 12 championships this season, so they will have three new banners to hang on the flagpoles at Congress Springs Park.
The minor division Blue Jays won the District 12 Tournament of Champions, and Saratoga's 9-year-old all-star team and 8-year-old tournament team won district championships.
But it wasn't just the performances of the younger Saratoga Little League teams that made it a banner year for the local league. The Saratoga major division all-stars also made their league proud with an impressive showing at the district tournament.
Los Gatos won the District 12 championship, beating Lincoln Glen 5-0 in the finals. But Saratoga came through with a commendable fourth-place finish, winning three of their five games in tournament play.
Saratoga opened the tourney with a solid 10-4 win over Union, but lost 6-1 to Almaden a game later. The locals fought back with a lopsided 13-1 win over Cambrian, then edged Willow Glen 5-3 on Jeff DeBarr's clutch home run in the bottom of the seventh.
Saratoga lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to Lincoln Glen a few days later. The Glenners went on to beat Almaden 5-3 in the semifinals before falling to Gatos in the title game.
It was a thrilling win over Willow Glen that helped Saratoga secure fourth place in the tournament.
The clubs were locked in a 3-3 tie in extra innings. DeBarr stepped to the plate with a runner on and blasted a two-run walk-off homer to give Saratoga a 5-3 victory. It was DeBarr's fourth homer of the postseason.
Bubba Durket and Greg Justice teamed to pitch Saratoga to the win over Willow Glen. Only two of the three runs they allowed were earned.
Angelo Caloiaro led the club's bat attack with three hits, and he combined with Bo Nielson to turn five double plays.
Photgraph by Mark Kocina
Sliding home with a run in a 13-1 win over Cambrian is Greg Justice of the Saratoga Little League major division all-star team.
Sam Twombly was perfect through 3 2/3 innings, and Saratoga broke open a close game with a 10-run rally in the third in the 13-1 win over Cambrian.
Twombly lost his perfect game with two outs in the fourth, but he went on to nail the pitching win for Saratoga.
Justice had three hits in the win and he and DeBarr ripped two hits apiece in the 10-run third.
Justice knocked in three runs in the win and DeBarr, Bennett Rothenberg, Twombly and Nielson drove in two each.
Saratoga had opened the tournament with a 10-4 win over Union. Twombly and Justice combined to toss 'Toga to the win.
Union jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Alex Lagemann started the Saratoga comeback with a home run. The locals went on to score 10 runs in four innings to clinch the victory.
Nielson doubled twice and singled for Saratoga and DeBarr had two doubles. They drove in two runs apiece.
Saratoga lost a tough 6-1 nod to Almaden to fall into the elimination bracket. But the local all-stars beat Cambrian and Willow Glen before losing the 3-2 heartbreaker to Lincoln Glen.
Still, it was quite a showing for the Saratoga 'stars.
Scott Darchuk, Greg Schuck, John McCready and Augie Lagemann were other members of the talented Saratoga all-star team.
The Saratoga Little League major division all-stars posted a 3-2 record to finish fourth in the District 12 tournament. Members of the team included Jeff DeBarr, Bubba Durket, Greg Justice, Angelo Caloiaro, Bo Nielson, Sam Twombly, Bennett Rothenberg, Alex Lagemann, Scott Darchuk, Greg Schuck, John McCready and Augie Lagemann.
Quito Little League
The Lincoln Glen Little League all-stars played for the championship in the District 12 tournament at the Quito Little League field last week, but only after claiming a hard-earned 3-2 win over host Quito in one of the early rounds of the tourney.
Quito played the district finalists tough before losing by a run to face elimination from the tournament.
Lincoln Glen took the early lead with two runs in the second and a run in the third, but Quito battled back.
Kevin Smith opened the fifth for Quito when he reached on catcher's interference. Corey Gazay doubled off the left field fence to drive home Smith, then Gazay scored on a double by Mel Hutcherson.
Andy Capek reached on an error, and the runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. But Hutcherson attempted to score on a second wild pitch, and was out on a close play at the plate.
Kevin Wyllie beat out an infield single in the sixth, but that was all Quito could manage. Lincoln Glen hung on for the 3-2 win.
Alex Juull tossed four and a third strong innings for Quito in the game and Smith flipped an inning of scoreless relief.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
