Metro falls to Homestead in district tournament

By Dick Sparrer

The Sunnyvale Metro Little League all-stars came within a game of reaching the championship round in the District 44 major division tournament.

But they ran into Santa Clara Homestead in the loser's bracket final and dropped a 4-1 decision. Homestead went on to win the district championship.

Metro had pounded Cupertino National 9-2 to advance through the loser's side of the bracket. Yasser Clor was touched for a lead-off homer, but the hurler went on to toss four strong innings to get the win. He allowed just two hits and struck out eight.

Richard McDowell doubled twice and Kevin Brahney singled and knocked in two runs in the win. Scott Isaak singled and doubled, and Jeremy Cunningham and Paul Neven each doubled for Metro.

But Metro could manage just three hits in the next game against Homestead and lost 4-1 to face elimination.

Jonas Krave singled and scored the lone run for Metro.

Members of the Metro team included Clor, McDowell, Brahney, Isaak, Cunningham, Neven, Krave, Craig Burch, Michel Debauge, Bryan Dunmire, Derek Groom, Kyle Lewis, Anthony Ojeda-Memolo and Mike Rose. The club was managed by Rick McDowell and his coaches were Tim Isaak and Ed Lewis.

The Sunnyvale Serra all-stars lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to Metro in their first District 44 game. The Serra 'stars went on to eliminate Cupertino American before facing elimination themselves in a loss to Los Altos.

Members of the Serra team included Gregory Crane, Kurt Dodge, Chesley Douglas, Kyle Dukes, William Fickett, David Glassanos, Samuel Hedgpeth, Trevor Mertens, Samuel Pompei, Amar Randhawa, Kevin Wheatley and Christopher Wong. The team's manager was Mark Wheatley and his coaches were Mike Barton and Leo Thom.

Sunnyvale Southern opened with an 8-6 win over Tri-Cities, but lost two straight to Homestead and Campbell.

Members of the Southern all-star team included John Austin, David Cocco, Shawn Goldberg, Dan Gossard, Jarrod Haering, Erik Hansen, Chris McDonald, Lucas Reiff, Matt Sheppard, Andy Charlton, Tony Delvecchio and Dan Lapin. The team was managed by Brady Austin and his coaches were Dave Delvecchio and Todd Haering.

Sunnyvale National lost two straight games in all-star play. Picked to the all-star team were Henry Arellanes, Nathan Cathcart, Justin Cecil, Richard Dodson, Cody Guarnera, Anthony Joaquin, Tufova Leatiota, James Perez, Ryan Perry, Christopher Preston, Robert Sedin and Ignacio Bermudez-Tabarez. The team was managed by Joseph Kealinohomorih and his coaches were Steve Espinoza and Tom Fernandez.

Junior division

Andrew Simoni ripped two hits and Shaun Wright went the distance to flip a four-hitter to lead Sunnyvale Serra to a 7-4 win over Cupertino American in junior division play.

Serra dropped a 16-4 nod to Sunnyvale Southern a game later.

Lance Turner doubled twice and singled twice to drive in three runs for Southern and Joe Reyes tossed a four-hitter for the win.

Chris Knopf ripped a two-run homer and Willie Hayes scored four runs on three walks and a single.

Rich Kosoglow tripled for the winners and Matt Barkley, Alfonso Mejerado and Reyes each doubled.

Boomer Johnson doubled for Serra.

Officials look for alternatives to proposed VTA tax

Battle of the Huertgen Forest

Sports Briefs

Junior softball

Little League baseball

SCVAL teachers and coaches compete in Seattle