The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

U.S. wins Little League series

Metro had taken the first step

By Dick Sparrer

The United States knocked off Japan to win the championship in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., last weekend.

The kids from New Jersey realized a dream that was shared by thousands of young baseball players across the nation earlier this summer, including the all-stars of the Sunnyvale Metro Little League.

Metro completed that all-important first step on the road to Williamsport by winning the District 44 championship. But the Sunnyvale 'stars lost in the sectionals at Aptos Junior High to see their season come to an end.

Sunnyvale Metro split with Lincoln Glen (District 12) and beat Toro (District 9) and Scotts Valley (District 39) before splitting with Oak Ridge (District 59) in the championship round.

Scott Boardman blasted a solo homer and Jeffrey Gordon cracked a run-scoring double, but Metro lost 6-4 to Oak Ridge in the championship game.

Adam Wegener also ripped a run-scoring single for the locals.

Shortstop Kevin Jurovich starred defensively in the game, with a couple of brilliant plays in the field.

Metro took the long road to the title game. The locals lost 6-1 to Lincoln Glen in their opener, and had to battle through the loser's bracket.

David Gale's fifth-inning double was the only hit Metro could manage against Lincoln Glen's Scott Righetti in the opening round loss.

Metro came back to blast Toro 13-2 thanks to a grand slam by Wegener and a solid pitching performance by Ryan Boardman.

Wegener, S. Boardman, Gordon and Chip Lewis had two hits each for the winners.

Sunnyvale got a little revenge with a 5-3 win over Lincoln Glen a game later.

Wegener tossed a five-hitter and helped himself at the plate with a two-run double. Gordon had two hits and R. Boardman slapped a two-run single in the first.

Joe Waltz and Jurovich were defensive stars in the win.

Sunnyvale blanked Scotts Valley 1-0 a game later with Gordon tossing the shutout. Gordon fanned seven and walked none.

Wegener scored the game's only run in the sixth when he singled, took second on a wild pitch, went to third on Gordon's ground ball and scored on an error.

The win pushed Metro into the finals against Oak Ridge, but Sunnyvale had to win twice to wrest the title away. Metro won the first game 10-8, but lost the second.

Gale clubbed a two-run homer and Wegener and Boardman each blasted solo homers in the Metro win.

R. Boardman was three-for-three with a homer and also came on in relief to get the pitching win. Wegener also had three hits, and Gordon and S. Boardman each doubled.

Joe Cortijo, Bryan Fracchia, Easton Friedling, Chris Knopf, Josh Salaz and Larry Witkovski were other members of the Sunnyvale Metro team that was coached by Edward Lewis, Al Chien and Terry Gonzales.

Sunnyvale 'stars

Metro was one of just four Little League all-stars teams from Sunnyvale in the District 44 tournament. Other squads included:

Sunnyvale National-- Colin Abberton, Steven Abina, John Banks, Justin Bowlds, Louis Cotter, Tyson Harding, Kyle Howell, Ryan Punzel-Jasinsky, Shamon Thompson-Scott, Ernesto Vargas Jr., Keyan Kousha, Christopher Miller, Shawn Church and Adam Aragon.

Sunnyvale Serra-- Matthew Barkley, James Beeson, Troy Beeson, Matt Burdoni, Robert Handy, Brent Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Craig Moberg, Adam Myers, Brandon Parisi, Randall Pulgar, Joseph Reyes and Teddy Wu.

Sunnyvale Southern-- Alfonso Mejorado, Timothy Yordan, Daniel Cochran, Daniel De Zordo, Joseph Faber, Jeffery Hungerford, Jason Anthony, Richard Kosoglow, Michael Plevney, Kelsey Severns, Christopher Bailey, Mark Dragich, William Hayes and Jason Linn.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 2, 1998.
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