Saratoga News
Sports
Photograph by Kevin White
Third sacker Sumner Vogel snags the throw, but it's too late to get the sliding Luke Anastasi of San Jose American. Saratoga managed to nail a 7-0 win over American and posted a 4-0 record in pool play in the District 12 major division.
Saratoga wins four straight in District 12 major tourney
By Kevin Sparrer
Almaden made the Los Gatos pitchers hurt. Unfortunately, it was literally as well as metaphorically.
Almaden North faced Los Gatos National in the final round of pool play in the District 12 Little League major division all-star tournament on July 15 at the Branham Hills Little League field. The game took only five innings thanks to the overpowering bats of the Almaden squad. Almaden blasted three home runs in the game, including a line drive grand slam in the top of the fifth by Conner Jauch, on the road to a 14-0 victory.
Unfortunately for Los Gatos, in the top of the third Jauch also hit a hard ground ball back at the pitcher that bounced up and caught Evan Hench in the back of the elbow, putting him out of the game. Preston Rind came on to finish out the game for Los Gatos, but the first pitch he threw was crushed by Mitchell Evanier over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
Almaden North finished 3-1 in pool play. It won its first game over Union 7-0 on July 8, dropped the second game to Los Gatos American 6-3 on July 11, defeated Quito 12-0 on July 14 and then won against Los Gatos National.
Almaden North was to advance to the semifinal round of the tournament on July 17 to face Saratoga.
Lincoln Glen was also to participate in the semifinal round of the tournament on July 17 against Los Gatos American thanks to a win over Willow Glen on July 15, 7-4. The winners of the Lincoln Glen-Los Gatos American and Almaden North-Saratoga games were to meet for the District 12 major division championship on July 18, 5:30 p.m., at Branham Hills.
Saratoga was the only team in the tournament to finish pool play with an unblemished record. Saratoga went 4-0 in pool play, finishing with a close 11-10 win over Branham Hills on July 15. Saratoga hammered out 12 hits in the win, including a number of extra base hits.
Mason Anchondo only had one hit, but it landed in the cheap seats for 'Toga. Neil Bruner hammered the ball with a double and a triple, Greg Kenter and George Ellenikiotis each nailed a pair of singles, and Kai Kirk, Will Dennis, Shane Smith, Andrew Barna and Colin Johnson each slammed out a hit in the win. Troy Doles also scored a run for Saratoga.
Saratoga allowed three runs in the top of the first but fought back for five in the bottom of the inning. Branham tried again to overtake Saratoga with three more runs in the third, but Saratoga downed the attempt with six runs in the bottom of the third, which was enough for the win.
Saratoga continued into the semifinal round on July 17 against Almaden with hopes of making it to July 18 for the championship game. Saratoga defeated Lincoln Glen 9-0 on July 7 in the first game of pool play, then went on to down Almaden South 6-1 on July 8. The third win came over San Jose American 7-0 on July 12 and then finally the win over Branham Hills.
The Quito 12-year-old all-stars finished pool play 2-2 after a win over Cambrian Park 8-5 on July 15.
Quito only managed four hits in the contest, but two of them were home runs. Adrian Medina and Matt Gault both jacked homers. Gault also roped another hit in the win. Nick Conroy slammed a double for Quito. Medina, Kyle Payne, Gault, Conroy, Aaron Newman, Brett Morales and Arya Parhar scored the runs for Quito. Gault scored twice in the win.
Unfortunately for Quito, its record wasn't good enough to advance in the tournament. Quito dropped its first game to Los Gatos American 11-6 on July 8, then won one over Los Gatos National 12-8 on July 10. Quito lost to Almaden North 12-0 on July 14 and finally claimed the win over Cambrian.
The rest of Quito's all-stars include Andrew Barton, Trevor Ross, Nicky Wahl and Casey Mintz.
