Photograph by Mark Kocina
Valient Attempt: Lincoln Glen shortstop Taylor Valenzuela makes a valiant attempt to haul in a throw for a force at second, but Woody Wilkerson of Los Gatos slides in safely in the District 12 championship game. Gatos ended up winning 5-0.
Lincoln Glen second in District 12
Locals follow long road to glory in their district championship
By Dick Sparrer
It was a long road that the Lincoln Glen Little League major division all-stars faced after opening the District 12 tournament with a loss to rival Willow Glen.
But it turned out to a road well traveled for the Lincoln Glenners, who fought back from that loss with four straight wins to get into the district championship game against Los Gatos.
Three games in four days turned out to be too much for Lincoln Glen, though, as the locals lost a tough 5-0 decision to unbeaten Gatos. Still, it was quite a showing for Lincoln Glen. The all-stars managed to fight back from that early loss to clinch second place in District 12.
It was an impressive comeback that drove Lincoln Glen into the district finals. The local all-stars lost to Willow Glen in their opener, but fought back to win elimination games against Quito 3-2, American, Saratoga 3-2 and Almaden 5-3 to secure their berth in the finals.
Lincoln Glen threatened a few times against Los Gatos in the title game, but the 'stars couldn't punch home a run against Gatos hurler Kyle Blair. The right hander struck out 15 and allowed just six hits and a walk on his way to the shutout win.
Still, Lincoln Glen had runners on in four of the six innings and managed to keep the pressure on Blair and Los Gatos.
Steven Skavdahl got the locals off to a good start when he fought back from an 0-2 count to work a walk to lead off the game. But he was left stranded at first three outs later.
Photograph by R. Allan Schnoor
All Stars: The Lincoln Glen major division all-stars finished second in the District 12 tournament and earned a place in the sectionals. Members of the team include (l-r) Eric Zetterquist, Steven Skavdahl, Daniel O'Shaughnessy, Kyle Schroeder, David DeCecco, Dewey Rogge, Nick Barbara, Taylor Valenzuela, Matt Garish, Kyle Lundquist, Billy Shepherd and Evan Bishop.
Lincoln Glen came fighting right back in the second. Billy Shepherd singled to left and David DeCecco followed with a wind and sun aided single to right to put runners on first and second with no outs. But Blair struck out the next three hitters he faced to get out of the jam.
Starting pitcher Dewey Rogge was matching outs with Blair in the early going. He retired the side in order in the first, including a strikeout of Blair, and he fanned the first hitter he faced in the second before giving up an infield hit. The Gatos baserunner was a quick out when second sacker Nick Barbara fielded a ground ball and flipped to shortstop Taylor Valenzuela for a force.
But a two-out walk was followed by a three-run homer, and that would prove a deficit Lincoln Glen could never make up.
Still, there was no quit in the Lincoln Glen squad this night. After going down in order in the third, they rallied in the fourth. Shepherd ripped a one-out single to right and DeCecco followed with a single up the middle. The two moved to second and third on a wild pitch, but Blair struck out the next two hitters to end the threat.
Los Gatos, with insurance runs in the third and fifth, took a 5-0 lead into the sixth. But once more Lincoln Glen came fighting back.
Rogge lined a hard single into left and, an out later, Shepherd completed a 3-for-3 night with a bloop single to right.
The runners ended up stranded at first and second, though, when Blair fanned the next two hitters to nail down the victory.
Three Lincoln Glen hurlers--Rogge, Evan Bishop and DeCecco--combined to toss a five-hitter, but the three-run homer in the second was a big blow that the local all-stars were not able to overcome.
DeCecco came on in relief in the fourth and tossed two strong innings, striking out four and allowing an unearned run.
Eric Zetterquist, Daniel O'Shaughnessy, Kyle Schroeder, Matt Garish and Kyle Lundquist are other members of the Lincoln Glen major division all-star team. Dennis Shaffer is the club's manager and Mike DeCecco and Mike D'Antonio are his coaches.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
