Derek Thomas, though, threw just a little better.

Thomas tossed a 3-hit shutout to lead the Wildcats to a 4-0 win over the Falcons on a cool Tuesday afternoon on the Los Gatos diamond.

The big southpaw needed just 82 pitches--53 for strikes--to turn back the Falcons. Thomas struck out six, walked only three and hit one batter in his gem. He allowed only seven batters to reach base, and only three got as far as second.

What's more, the Los Gatos defense that was a concern for head coach Brad Sanfilippo early in the season played errorless baseball behind the senior left-hander.

The Cats even managed to turn one double play behind their ace, and there was nothing conventional about it.

Augie Lagemann singled up the middle to open the seventh inning for the Falcons and he moved to second on a wild pitch. After Danny Bragonier struck out, Gatos catcher Marty Mullins threw behind Lagemann at second and, when the runner broke for third, shortstop Justin Schafer gunned him down with a perfect throw to third sacker Jeremy Bay. Mullins then pulled in a high foul pop behind the plate for the final out of the game.

Mullins had also gotten Thomas out of a bit of a jam in the sixth. Jeff Lyu walked on four pitches to open the inning for the Falcons and two outs later Matt Wright was hit in the back with a pitch. On what appeared to be a wild pitch, the runners took off for second and third. An alert Mullins grabbed the rebound off the backstop and fired a strike to Schafer covering the bag at second to gun down Wright, the trailing runner, for the final out of the inning.

Mullins' presence was felt offensively early in the game. After Michael Brienzo drew a one-out walk in the third, Mullins ripped a hit-and-run double down the left field line and the speedy Brienzo scored all the way from first to break up the scoreless tie.

That would be the only run Thomas would need for the win, but the Wildcats added some insurance in the fourth. Kyle Blair blasted a 1-1 pitch high over the left field fence for a solo homer to open the inning.

It was the only time in the game when Newberry appeared a bit rattled. Schafer singled up the middle on the next pitch, and Michael Gault ripped a one-strike pitch to left for a hit. Mark Johnson forced Gault at second. On the second pitch to Ray Salazar, Johnson stole second and Schafer stole home when the catcher threw down to second.

Newberry, though, worked his way out of trouble. He struck out Salazar on three pitches, then turned and threw to shortstop Kyle Stoffers to pick off Johnson at second to end the threat.

It was one of two picks for Newberry in the game. In the first, Mullins reached on an error and stole second. But Newberry turned quickly on the mound to catch Mullins too far off the bag. Mullins took off for third and Newberry threw in front of him to get him in rundown. Third sacker Chris Bruner, whose error had allowed Mullins to reach in the first place, took the throw and, when Mullins turned to race back to second, tossed to the shortstop. Stoffers ran down Mullins to make the tag.

Los Gatos added an unearned run in the sixth to close out the scoring. Blair reached on an error and Schafer singled to left. Gault dropped a beauty of a bunt down the third-base line for a sacrifice, and Johnson's sacrifice fly to center chased Blair home.

It was a tough defeat for Newberry, who threw only 97 pitches--65 for strikes--in six innings on the hill. He struck out only three, but walked just one and hit a batter. The Falcons committed three errors behind him.

Gault and Schafer had two hits apiece to lead the six-hit attack for the Wildcats. Mullins doubled and Blair homered to round out the offense.

Lagemann, Jeff Roberts and Eric Finnegan each singled for Saratoga in the game.

The Falcons were to face Santa Cruz in another non-league game on April 16 and will get back to place in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL this week when they visit Monta Vista on April 19 and host Gunn on April 21. Games begin at 3:30 p.m.

Saratoga is 4-7 in league play and well off the pace being set by division leaders Homestead and Santa Clara. The Mustangs and Bruins lead the pack with matching 6-2 records and Gunn is close behind at 5-2. Fremont sits in fourth place at 6-4, following by Monta Vista (3-5), Saratoga and Lynbrook (0-8).