The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Christian del Rosario

Sunnyvale National's Robert Perry looks up for the call in this divisional game. Sunnyvale won the Division I title and has won three games at the Western Regionals.

National keeps winning!

By Dick Sparrer

One game it's Troy Tulowitzki, the next game it's Bo Caravalho.

One game it's Robert Perry, the next game it's Daniel Murrell.

Every game it seems to be someone different coming through for the Sunnyvale National Little League major division all-star tournament this season.

But one thing is very consistent--it's always someone coming through.

They did it on their way to the District 44 title, then again on their way to the Section 5 crown. And they did it on the road to the Northern California Division 1 championship.

Now they're doing it again in the Western Regionals in San Bernadino. And this time if they win it all, they're heading to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series.

Sunnyvale National won its first three games to open the Western Regionals, and now the local all-stars are just one win away from playing for the regional crown.

Sunnyvale will play for first place in its pool on Aug. 13, and the National all-stars will have to lose twice to keep from advancing to the Friday night championship game that will be nationally televised over ESPN-2.

Sunnyvale National earned its berth in the pool finals with three straight wins last week. The local 'stars went seven innings to nail a 3-2 win over Auburn, Wash., then blasted East Boise American of Idaho 10-1, and finally blanked Dixie of St. George, Utah, 3-0, to advance.

Tulowitzki led Sunnyvale to the win over Auburn in the first game of the tournament. It was his one-out double in the seventh inning that knocked home Nick Kossob with the run that broke a 2-2 tie and lifted National to the victory.

Tulowitzki also went the distance to toss Sunnyvale to the extra-inning win. The right-hander tossed a three-hitter, striking out 10 and walking just two.

Perry came right back with a masterful pitching performance in the 10-1 win over East Boise American a game later. Perry fired a two-hitter, striking out 11 and walking only two, to lead Sunnyvale National to its second win.

Caravalho singled and doubled for the winners, and Tulowitzki came through with a clutch two-run double.

It was Murrell's turn to take the starring role in the win over Dixie of St. George in game #3. Murrell fired a three-hit shutout to lead Sunnyvale to a 3-0 victory.

That win pushed Sunnyvale into the pool finals on Wednesday. The all-stars are expected to face either Utah or Washington coming from the loser's bracket. Other teams in Sunnyvale's pool include Billings, Mont.; Anchorage, Alaska; and Laramie, Wyo.

The two pool winners will be on Friday, 6:30 p.m., in the game that will determine the West representative to the World Series.

Scores of Sunnyvale National post-season scores:

District 44

Sunnyvale National 3/ Sunnyvale Southern 2

Moreland 11/ Sunnyvale National 3

Sunnyvale National 14/ Mountain View 4

Sunnyvale National 10/ Cupertino American 0

Sunnyvale National 5/ Los Altos 0

Sunnyvale National 9/ Campbell 2

Sunnyvale National 3/ Santa Clara Westside 1

Sunnyvale National 4/ Moreland 2

Championship game:

Sunnyvale National 6/ Moreland 0

Section 5

Sunnyvale National 4/ Willow Glen 3

Sunnyvale National 7/ Hartnell 1

Championship game:

Sunnyvale National 4/ Willow Glen 4

NorCal Divisional

Sunnyvale National 3/ Newark 1

Sunnyvale National 5/ Visalia 3

Visalia 7/ Sunnyvale National 4

Championship game:

Sunnyvale National 3/ Visalia 2

Western Regionals

Sunnyvale National 3/ Auburn (Wash.) 2 (7 innings)

Sunnyvale National 10, East Boise American (Ida.) 1

Sunnyvale National 3, Dixie (St. George, Utah) 0

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, August 13, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.