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Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Homestead's Gary Mullins drops down a bunt in last week's battle with Monta Vista. The Mustangs lost a 10-6 decision to the Matadors in the Cupertino-Host Lions Tournament.

Mats knock off Mustangs

Fremont wins, Homestead falls in close softball decisions

By Dick Sparrer

Monta Vista was not going to make it to the finals of the Cupertino-Host Lions Tournament last weekend--that honor was left to Live Oak and Sequoia.

But the Matadors had no intention of just slipping quietly out of the local tournament. In fact, quite the contrary was true. The Mats went out making a lot of noise... with their bats.

Monta Vista blasted 12 hits, including a pair of home runs, in a 10-6 win over Homestead in the final tourney game for each club.

Ryan Realini and Brandon Douglas each ripped homers, and senior left-hander Ben Lewis picked up the pitching win for the Mats against the Mustangs. The southpaw is now 6-0 for the year.

Andy Myers crashed three doubles to lead a 10-hit assault for the Mustangs. Nick Nelson singled and doubled for Homestead, and Kayzell Milton had two hits.

Senior right-hander Tony Plant was tagged with the tough mound loss.

The clubs were locked in a 2-2 tie after two innings. The Mats scored in the third to lead 3-2, but Homestead picked up two in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Monta Vista fought back with three in the fifth and four in the sixth, though, to take control of the game.

Monta Vista, now 8-7 for the year, had lost 11-8 to Live Oak in an earlier round. The Acorns went on to knock off Terra Nova 7-2 before beating Sequoia 10-4 in the finals.

Girls' softball

In girls' softball action last week, Fremont won but Homestead lost in a pair of close games.

Shiela Hess went the distance to flip a one-hit shutout in Fremont's extra inning 1-0 win over Santa Clara. Hess threw 10 zeroes at the Bruins, striking out 15 along the way, before her teammates finally made her a winner with a run in the home half of the 10th.

The Firebirds improved to 3-1 in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League with the win. The 'Birds are 9-5 for the year.

Homestead, meanwhile, lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Los Altos despite a nifty pitching performance by Nicole Byroads. The senior hurler tossed a five-hitter, but was touched for a pair of runs in the third. She blanked the Eagles the rest of the way, but Homestead could manage just a single run in the sixth.

Homestead slipped to 1-3 in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL with the loss.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, April 15, 1998.
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