Saratoga News

Sports

District comes to Saratoga for minor TOC

By Kevin Sparrer

Branham Hills came out on top in the District 12 minor division Tournament of Champions by defeating the Union Astros in the championship game on June 21 at the Saratoga Little League field at Congress Springs Park.

Branham had reached the title round with a thrilling 10-9 win over Almaden South, scoring in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the victory.

Union had an even more difficult time in the semifinals. It took the Astros two days to defeat San Jose American Giants. Darkness caused the June 19 game to be postponed, and the Astros had to come back on June 20 to take the Giants 11-10 in 10 innings.

Branham Hills had opened the tourney with a 4-0 win over host Saratoga on June 16, then two days later knocked off Almaden North 15-11.

Union topped Los Gatos American 12-7 in the first round, and after a second-round bye, eliminated San Jose American a game later. SJ American had blanked Los Gatos National 10-0 in the second round of the tourney.

Gatos National had opened the tournament with a 9-6 win over Cambrian Park. The same day, SJ American beat Willow Glen 8-5, Almaden South topped Lincoln Glen 9-1 and Almaden North blanked Quito 10-0.

Saratoga was the host league for the tourney, and tournament director Brian Cox and the rest of the Saratoga Little League volunteers received praise from visiting leagues for their operation of the tournament.