By Dick Sparrer
Most coaches would agree--they'd rather be lucky than good.
Because they know that, to be a winner, a team must have a lot of talent... and a little luck.
The Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic girls' 12-and-under softball team had plenty of one, but none of the other in the Western States World Series in Lodi recently.
And because of it, but the Magic had to settle for a ninth-place finish in the rugged tournament.
But you won't catch Magic coach Steve Palasky complaining about finishing ninth in the 25-team tournament on a very hot weekend in Lodi. In fact, quite the contrary is true.
"This was one of the greatest efforts I have ever seen, considering the temperature, four hours of straight ball and no breaks," he said. "The girls should be proud of their efforts."
After a tough loss to Lompoc to open the tournament, the Magic battled the West Valley Slammers and the 110-degree heat to post a thrilling 4-3 victory.
It was cooler the next day--only 105 degrees. And the "hot" Magic crew pulled out a tight 2-1 win over the Pleasanton Hot Shots.
But Los Gatos-Saratoga had nothing left for its next game and lost to a team from Southern California to face elimination from the tournament.
The tourney featured the top 25 teams from the eight western states, and the Magic earned its berth by winning 75 percent of its games in the regular season. Included among those wins were a tournament championship, two tournament seconds and two tourney thirds.
Members of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic girls' 12-and-under team include Lisa Ballon, Jennifer Brown, Jenny Dixon, Cassie Gilford, Andrea Gremer, Tara Hodge, Paige Jewell, Jennifer King, Amanda Palasky, Casie Piper, Kimberly Pugh and Cambria Yauger. The team was coached by Palasky and Rob Piper.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, August 28, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved