Behind the pitching of 6-foot-4 A.J. Puziol, the D'Backs enjoyed a 6-1 lead over the Los Altos Giants after four innings at Sunnyvale's Farrell Field. However, in the fifth inning Puziol was stationed at first base, not on the mound.

"He was out of innings," manager Paul Kamradt explained, citing the tournament rule that allows a player to pitch no more than nine innings during a calendar week.

Of course, Kamradt and coaches Jeff Osorio and Steve Kelsey were well aware that the ace right-hander had totaled five innings during two games earlier in the week. So, just like in those 11-8 decisions over the Los Altos Cardinals and the Moreland Black, Kamradt's pitching plan was the same--start Puziol, then turn the ball over to usually reliable relief pitchers.

Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, the fifth inning was entirely unusual.

Fueled by five walks, three hit batsmen and a two-out, three-run double, the Giants scored eight times in the fifth and held on for a 9-6 win and the TOC crown. The Giants finished with an overall record of 22-1, while the D'Backs ended 18-4.

"We felt we were the better team," Kamradt lamented. "But the fifth inning, when the strike zone seemed to get very small, killed us."

D'Back pitchers held the Giants scoreless in the last two innings, but the D'Backs couldn't score either. Both teams put runs on the scoreboard in just two innings. Serra sandwiched three runs in the first and three more in the fourth around one Giants tally in the third.

Paul Kamradt (two-run home run), Derek Shull (two hits, two RBIs), Puziol (three hits, one RBIs) and Devan Ramsour (triple) helped stake the D'Backs to their 6-1 lead.

The Junior TOC featured the eight best of District 44's 19 junior squads, based on the results of a 20-game schedule. No teams from Sunnyvale Southern or Sunnyvale National earned a TOC berth. Five leagues, including Sunnyvale Metro, did not have a junior program (13-14 age group).

In their tourney opener June 21 at Los Altos High, the Diamondbacks needed a four-run sixth inning to break a 6-6 tie. Puziol went 5 for 5 to pace a 14-hit attack. Eric Chapman, Ramsour, Joey Whitworth and Kamradt each had two hits. Kamradt drove home two runs with a double and a triple. Puziol, Chapman and Whitworth also knocked in runs. Ramsour, Puziol and Kamradt scored two runs each.

In a semifinal game against Moreland Black two days later, the D'Backs built a 10-3 lead during the first three innings and hung on for the victory.

Whitworth (two hits, three RBIs) and Ramsour (triple, two runs) sparked the offense. Puziol, Kamradt, catcher David Orvick and Shull also had hits. Puziol had an RBI single and scored a run, Kamradt scored two runs and Orvick scored one.

Throughout the season, the D'Backs' defense was anchored by the solid infield play of Kamradt, Ramsour, James Osorio and Sean Lawson up the middle. Third base duties were shared by Trevor Stephens, Whitworth and Ramsour. Led by Shull in center field, Nick Kelsey, Whitworth, Chapman, Lawson and Joey Cox got the job done in the outfield.

Although the final game had one forgettable inning, Jeff Kamradt will not forget his first season as a Little League manager. "It was a great season," he said. "The kids had fun."

Minor baseball TOC

The curtain fell on the Sunnyvale National Indians' excellent season, as the Santa Clara Westside Pirates scored an 8-3 victory in the championship game of the District 44 Minor Baseball TOC June 21 at Miller Middle School in San Jose.

The Indians, who had shown much offensive fireworks earlier in the tournament during wins over champions from Cupertino National (13-3), Santa Clara Briarwood (3-2) and Moreland (7-4), were shut down by Westside pitcher Jacob Spurling.

The Indians went scoreless for five straight innings before finally tallying three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Meanwhile, the Indians' Bubba Winters pitched admirably during the first four innings. The Indians gave up just single runs in the first and third innings and trailed only 2-0 heading into the last of the fifth.

Westside rallied for six runs in the fifth, stretching its lead to 8-0.

Major softball TOC

The Jaguars from Sunnyvale Southern defeated the Sunnyvale National Bandits 12-2 to capture the District 44 major softball TOC June 21 at Ortega Park.

Members of the victorious Jaguars were Mariah Gregory, Elena Clark, Alex Viveiros, Christine Nichols, Gianna Cammarata, Ashley Hinson, Kathleen Yi, Wangui Hymes, Angela Cross, Rachel Gaardsmoe and Erin McGeoy. Manager Keith Viveiros was assisted by coach Kevin Gregory.

The Bandits advanced to the final game when they topped the Cupertino American Fireballs 15-5 in a game called after four innings on June 18. Winning pitcher Stacy Dobson had two hits and scored two runs for the Bandits. She allowed just three hits and struck out eight batters.

Junior softball TOC

The Sunnyvale Metro Tornadoes won the District 44 junior softball TOC recently. The Tornadoes put away the Cupertino American Jolt 17-4 in the final game June 20 at Ortega.

Two days earlier, Stephanie Dobson led the Tornadoes to a 17-6 victory over the Cupertino American Nitro. Dobson, who pitched all five innings, banged out three hits and scored four runs. Rennea Phillips had three hits and three runs scored for the Tornadoes. Phillips, Vivian Reed and Kelly Duffy all smacked doubles.