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Indians win District 12 major TOC
Cannah, Vargus homer in second championship game
By Dick Sparrer
Who says lightning never strikes twice in the same place?
Try to convince the Indians of the Willow Glen Little League major division of that.
The Indians won the District 12 Tournament of Championship for the second straight year with a 7-1 win over the Almaden Yankees in the finals, and lightning struck quickly for the Tribe when they cracked two doubles and two home runs right away in the first inning.
The Indians batted around in that first-inning rally, and they cruised from there to the easy win over the Yanks.
Willow Glen hurler Mark Cannah got the Indians off to a good start when he retired the Yankees in order in the top of the first, two of them on strikes.
And the Indians came out swinging in their half of the inning.
Nic Maggipinto ripped a double to open the game, and he raced to third on David Bailey's infield roller.
Nolan Maggipinto drove his brother home with a double, and he trotted home when Cannah followed with a two-run homer.
Chris Vargus made it back-to-back homers for the Indians when he tagged a solo shot to give the Indians a 4-0 lead.
Kellen Condie kept the rally alive with a single and he romped all the way to third when John Cantero reached on an error. An out later Michael Martin walked to load the bases, but the Indians left the bags packed when Ni. Maggipinto tapped into a force play on his second at-bat of the inning.
It remained 4-0 until the third when the Indians tagged on another run. Vargus singled and took second when Condie reached on an error. Vargus was thrown at third, but Condie scored when Cantero ripped a single.
The Indians padded their lead to 6-0 in the fourth when Ni. Maggipinto singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Anthony Giotelli.
Willow Glen picked up one final insurance run in the fifth. Condie reached on an interference call, but was forced at second by Cantero. An out later, Martin walked and Ni. Maggipinto singled to load the bases. Giotelli followed with a run-scoring single.
Almaden broke up Cannah's bid for a shutout with a run in the sixth. Andy Micko singled and Chris Walters walked. After Walters was forced at second, Ryan Gomez singled to drive home Micko.
Willow Glen pounded out 12 hits in the win. Ni. Maggipinto was 3-for-4 with a double in the lead-off spot, and Vargus was 3-for-3 with a homer. Giotelli had two hits, Cannah homered, No. Maggipinto doubled and Condie and Cantero each singled. Martin walked in his two plate appearances, and Condie and Cantero were each on base three times.
Singles by Alex Todd, Micko, Gomez, Walters and Michael Peters were the only hits Almaden could manage in the game.
Members of the league and TOC championship Willow Glen Indians included Ni. Maggipinto, Bailey, Giotelli, No. Maggipinto, Cannah, Vargus, Condie, Adam Racobs, Matt Rodriguez, Martin, Casey Byler and Cantero.
District 12 all-stars
The Little Leagues that make up District 12 come from all over the greater West Valley region of the Santa Clara Valley.
And the all-star teams representing those leagues will be in action on diamonds throughout that West Valley area this week as some tournaments begin and others continue at local fields.
The Quito Little League will host the prestigious major division tournament that begins June 30 at its field located on Pollard Road right between Los Gatos, Campbell and Saratoga.
The 11-year-old all-star tournament opened last weekend at John Baggerly Field on Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos, and games will continue through July 12.
The district's 10-year-old tournament also got under way last weekend and will continue through July 10 at the Union Little League field on Camden Avenue just off Blossom Hill.
And the youngest of the all-stars, the 9-year-olds, started play June 23 and will continue their tournament through July 12 at the Cambrian Little League field at Ross and Foxworthy in San Jose.
First-round play in the major division begins Saturday and includes the following match-ups: Saratoga vs. Union, 9 a.m.; Willow Glen vs. Cambrian, 11:30 a.m.; American vs. Branham, 2 p.m.; and Quito vs. Los Gatos, 4:30 p.m.
The Saratoga-Union winner will face Almaden on July 2, 5:30 p.m., and the Willow Glen-Cambrian winner will take on Lincoln Glen on July 3, 5:30 p.m.
Play began last weekend in the 11-year-old tournament Almaden facing Quito, Lincoln Glen meeting Branham and Almaden squaring off with Union. Cambrian was to open on Monday against the American-Quito winner and Saratoga will face the Lincoln Glen-Branham winner on June 26. The final first-round game pits Los Gatos and Willow Glen on June 27, 5:30 p.m., at the Baggerly Field.
Quito, Los Gatos No. 1 and No. 2, Branham No. 1, Union and Almaden No. 1 were all first-round winners in the 10-year-old all-star tournament, and Los Gatos and Cambrian each opened the 9-year-old tourney with victories.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
