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August 7, 2002
Willow Glen, California Since 1992 |
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Photograph by Dick Sparrer
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Back in Time: Bryan Hewitt jumps back to the
bag in time for the Lincoln Glen Little
League senior division all-stars in Western
Regional play last weekend. Lincoln Glen earned the berth in the
tournament by winning the title in the Division 2 tourney.
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Lincoln Glen wins division crown
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Dick Sparrer
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They did it the hard way in their first two
tournaments this summer.
But the Lincoln Glen Little League senior
division all-stars took a much easier road to
the Division 2 championship recently - they
went undefeated in the week-long tournament.
Lincoln Glen had fought back after a
first-round loss to win the District 12
title, then battled out of the loser's
bracket to take the Section 5 championship.
At the divisionals, though, there were
nothing but victories.
Lincoln Glen opened with an 11-5 win over
Tracy, then blanked Sutter-Buttes 10-0. The
locals beat Mark West of Santa Rosa 6-3 in
the finals of the winner's bracket, then
outlasted West 12-8 in the championship game.
Lincoln Glen actually trailed Mark West 8-7
heading into the last of the sixth, but
rallied for five runs to take the lead for
good.
Casey Brooks was hit by a pitch and raced to
third on a double by John Gibilisco. Kevin
Becker came through with a clutch two-run
single to put Lincoln Glen on top 9-8.
But the locals weren't finished yet. After
Becker stole second, Justin Johnson walked.
Scott Righetti doubled home Becker, and John
Shaffer singled home Johnson, with Righetti
tossed out at the plate on the play.
Lincoln Glen's final run scored when the
locals showed squeeze and, instead of going
home, the pitcher attempt to pick off Shaffer
at third. Shaffer broke for the plate and the
throw beat him home, but he kicked the ball
out of the catcher's glove to score.
Lincoln Glen had taken the early lead in the
game with four runs in the first and three
more in the second, but Santa Rosa answered
with three in the fifth and five in the sixth
to go up 8-7. That just set the stage for
Lincoln Glen's game-winning rally in the
bottom of the sixth.
Righetti knocked in four runs with a
single and a double. Becker had
two hits, three stolen bases, and he scored
three times.
Johnson and Shaffer also had two hits apiece,
and Gibilisco added the double. Jimmer
Castignani and Bryan Hewitt also singled in
the win.
"This team has gelled," said manager Larry
Schaffer. "They've figured out what it takes
to get to that next level."
The next level was the Western Regional that
opened last weekend at John Muir Middle
School in San Jose. Lincoln Glen lost 3-1 to
Maui in its opener, then fell to San Pedro a
game later in what turned out to be the
unofficial state championship game. Lincoln
Glen had in effect won the Northern
California title, and San Pedro was the
champion from Southern Cal.
Lincoln Glen opened the divisional with the
11-5 win over Tracy. Castignani tossed six
strong innings to get the mound win, striking
out six in his stint. Brooks allowed just one
hit in an inning of relief.
Becker singled and homered and Righetti
ripped a home run in the win. Gibilisco
belted a double.
Brooks went the distance to whirl a one-hit
shutout in Lincoln Glen's five-inning 10-0
win over Sutter Buttes a game later. Brooks
struck out a pair and walked just three.
Hewitt had two hits and scored three runs in
the win, and Righetti singled and doubled.
Anthony Diaz also doubled in the game.
The two wins pushed Lincoln Glen into the
finals of the winner's bracket, and the
locals ripped Mark West 6-3. Gibilisco and
Steve Rebagliati led a 13-hit attack with
three hits apiece. Becker doubled and
tripled, and Shaffer had two hits.
Johnson went the distance on the hill to get
the mound win. He was touched for just five
hits and struck out eight in the game. He
walked four.
Johnson, Gibilisco and Hewitt all hit .546 to lead all Lincoln Glen hitters
in the tournament. Becker finished with a .438 average and a team-high seven hits,
and Shaffer hit at a .417 clip. Becker
drove in six runs and swiped six bases in the four games, and Shaffer knocked
in five runs.
Righetti, who hit .357, led the squad with
eight runs batted in. Gibilisco knocked in
three runs and stole three bases.
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