Winning Effort: The Lincoln Glen Little League junior division (ages 13-14) all-stars won the District 12 and Section 5 championships before losing at the divisional tournament. Members of the team included (l-r) coach Steve Graziano, coach Jesse Sanchez, K.C. Brooks, Stephen Rebagliati, Tyler Smith, John Wilhelm, Jimmer Castignani, Garrett Armstrong, Michael LoPresti, Nick Graziano, Kevin Becker, Jason Tom, Greg Shannon, John Shaffer, manager Curt Becker and coach Mike Harrington.
Lincoln Glen falls in divisional
But junior all-stars win district, sectional title championship
By Dick Sparrer
T hey say that the third time's the charm. But that certainly wasn't the case for the junior division (ages 13-14) all-star team from the Lincoln Glen Little League.
The Lincoln Glenners lost their third game in their third tournament to see their exciting 2001 all-star season come to an end last week.
But what a season it was for the local all-stars. They won the District 12 championship and the Section 5 title, but lost at the divisional level when they were defeated by Visalia and Union City.
"But it was a good run," said Lincoln Glen manager Curt Becker. "And we'll be tough again next year in senior majors."
Tough is exactly the word to describe the Lincoln Glen all-stars in the divisional tourney. Injuries left the locals with a short roster for the tournament, but they still managed to knock off defending champion Airport of Sacramento to open the tourney before losing two straight.
"Our team was down to 10 players in the divisional tournament, and each and every one played their hearts out for Lincoln Glen," added Becker.
It was a tough 5-4 loss to Union City that ultimately eliminated Lincoln Glen from the tourney, but the locals gave it all they had before losing.
The all-stars were down 2-0 early in the game, but Steven Rebagliati blasted a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to tie things up.
Jimmer Castignani was laboring in a courageous effort on the mound, pitching well despite a sore arm, and the club took a 4-2 lead into the seventh.
But a couple of bloop hits and a seeing-eye single led a game-winning rally in the seventh for Union City.
The highlight of the tournament for Lincoln Glen was a 4-2 win over Airport in the opener.
Castignani and Kevin Becker ripped two hits apiece to lead Lincoln Glen to the win against the club that made it to the Western Regional finals just two years earlier.
Rounding out the Lincoln Glen junior division squad were K.C. Brooks, Tyler Smith, John Wilhelm, Garrett Armstrong, Michael LoPresti, Nick Graziano, Jason Tom, Greg Shannon and John Shaffer.
Joining C. Becker on the coaching staff were Jesse Sanchez, Mike Harrington and Steve Graziano.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
