Little did Lincoln Glen know just how big it would turn out to be.

Lincoln Glen went on to record a tight 6-5 win over Los Gatos to clinch the championship in the District 12 major division all-star tournament at the Branham Hills Little League field.

By winning the championship, the Lincoln Glen all-stars advanced to the Section 5 tournament that opened last week at the American Little League field in San Jose.

Lincoln Glen broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the fifth, then held on through a couple of rocky innings to pull out the 6-5 win over Los Gatos last Tuesday night.

The score was locked at four when Charlie Findeisen ripped a home run over the fence in right center to give Lincoln Glen a 5-4 lead to open the top of the fifth. But the visitors weren't finished.

A.J. Montoya walked and Vince Seiwit was hit by a pitch. Matt Mozzoni attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Seiwit was forced at second. With runners at the corners, Dan Willis beat out an infield hit to drive home Montoya.

Los Gatos got a run back in the bottom of the fifth and had runners at first and second in the sixth with two outs. But Seiwit fielded a ground ball at third and tagged the runner headed his way for the final out of the game.

The defensive play of the game for Lincoln Glen, though, came in the third. Los Gatos had tied the game 2-2 with a couple of hits and an error, and the home team had runners at first and second with no outs.

DeCecco came up firing to shortstop Willis to catch Politi too far off second for the first out. Two doubles later in the inning led to two more runs, but had it not been for DeCecco strong arm it could have been three.

Lincoln Glen had taken the early lead in the game with two runs in the second. Seiwit singled to right with two outs, then Mozzoni and Willis walked to load the bases. DeCecco walked to push home pinch runner Kevin Jarvis, then Xavier DelaRocha walked to force home Mozzoni.

Gatos got one back in the bottom of the second, then took the 4-2 lead with three in the third.

Lincoln Glen battled back to tie it, though. Mozzoni beat out an infield hit and Willis was hit by a pitch. The runners moved up on a passed ball, and two outs later both raced home on a double down the left field line by Greg Walters.

That's how it remained until Findeisen's homer in the fifth.

Findeisen tossed four innings to get the win for Lincoln Glen, striking out five and allowing seven hits. Andy Morgan came on to get the save with two innings of one-hit relief. But he was in trouble in each of the last two innings.

Los Gatos loaded the bags on two walks and a hit batsman in the fifth, scoring a run with a sacrifice fly, and Gatos put two runners on in the sixth before Seiwit made the final putout.

Lincoln Glen had just five hits in the game, the homer by Findeisen, the double by Walters and singles by Willis, Seiwit and Mozzoni. Willis was on base four times--he singled, walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Lincoln Glen clinched the district championship with the win over Los Gatos. The locals had opened the tourney by beating Union, then beat Branham Hills and Quito to move into the tournament championship game.