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David Beam is in a league of his own this week. Beam had a game baseball player's dream of on June 11 when he went 4 for 5 with a single, a two-run double and two three-run homers. It was more than enough to lead the Rangers of the Saratoga Little League major division to a 20-5 victory over the Yankees of San Jose American in the opening round of the District 12 Tournament of Champions.
The Rangers extended their already impressive streak of wins this season to 17 straight and have a great deal of momentum.
"They've just played very well," said the Saratoga manager Kevin McPartlan. "It's been a real team effort."
Though they scored at least one run in every inning, the biggest inning for the Rangers came in the top of the sixth when they put seven runs on the board after already leading 13-5. Beam led off the inning with a single and went to second when Jordan Waite walked. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Sumner Vogel walked to load the bases.
Marcus Hoffman ripped a single to drive in both Beam and Waite. With runners at first and second, Kevin Darchuk came in to run for Vogel and took third on a passed ball. David McPartlan loaded the bases with a walk and Neil Bruner forced a run in when he walked with the bases loaded.
Tyler Winningham drove in two runs with a base hit and went to second on an attempt on McPartlan at the plate. Will McKiernan loaded the bases again on a walk and Kai Kirk hit an infield fly for the first out of the inning. Beam came up again but went down on strikes for the second out before Waite ripped a single that drove in two more. Vogel blasted a single, but McKiernan was thrown out at the plate by the center fielder to end the inning.
Their next biggest inning was the top of the first when Saratoga scored four runs. Marcus Hoffman opened up the game with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. McPartlan reached on an error by the second baseman to put runners at the corners. Bruner ripped a single that scored Hoffman and an out later McKiernan forced McPartlan at third. Kirk blasted a single that drove in Bruner. Kirk went to second on an attempt on Bruner at the plate and then Beam drove in both runners with a double.
The top of the third was when the Rangers really broke away from the Yankees. Saratoga was only leading 5-4 after two full innings before the Rangers busted things open.
McKiernan led off the inning with a double and went to third on a hit by Kirk. Kirk found his way to second when the Yanks threw to the plate to keep McKiernan on second. Beam came up and blasted a home run to deep centerfield to extend the lead to 8-4. Kyle Fukui walked and Vogel flew out to right for the first out of the inning. Darchuk hit a ground ball to third that looked like it could be a double-play, but he beat the throw on the back end. A strikeout ended the inning.
The Rangers, already up 8-4, scored another three in the top of the fourth on another home run by Beam. Bruner and Winningham both ripped singles to reach base. Hoffman pinch ran for Bruner before Beam blasted a home run to right center for another three-run shot.
Up 11-4, Saratoga scored two more in the top of the fifth. With one out McPartlan singled and went to third on a double by Bruner. Winningham drove in both runners with a double before the American team could end the inning.
Saratoga's only other run came in the top of the second when, with one out, Darchuk bunted his way onto first. McPartlan reached on a fielder's choice that got Darchuk at second and Bruner belted a single off the wall that put runners at the corners. Bruner stole second and McPartlan scored on the throw down. The next batter grounded out to second to end the inning.
Saratoga advanced to a second-round game against Almaden South on June 13 and the winner was to face Lincoln Glen on June 14. The District 12 TOC championship game will be played on June 15, 5:30 p.m., at the Almaden Little League field.
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Photograph by Sean Penello