He didn't get it, but what he ended up with was still quite a gem.

Marriott flipped a 1-hit shutout to lead Willow Glen to an 8-0 win over American and to a 2-1 record in Pool B of the major division tournament.

The top two finishers from Pool A at Los Gatos and Pool B at Cambrian advance to the district championship round July 15 and 16 at Los Gatos. The championship game is set for July 16, 5:30 p.m.

The Willow Glen and Lincoln Glen all-star teams were in different brackets of the tournament, and heading into games last weekend both were still alive in the race for the playoffs.

Lincoln Glen lost 4-0 to Los Gatos in its first game of the tournament and dropped a 9-1 nod to Saratoga a game later. Lincoln Glen came back with a win over Quito, but needed to beat Almaden on Saturday in order to have a shot at advancement.

Willow Glen opened the tournament with a 9-5 win over Union, then after falling 10-0 to Cambrian, came back to blank American on Marriott's 1-hitter. A win over Branham Hills on Saturday would have all but clinched a place for Willow Glen in the championship round.

The big win over American kept Willow Glen very much alive in the tournament. Marriott held American at bay, giving up just a lone double in the fourth inning. He threw just 91 pitches—55 for strikes—on the way to the win. He struck out four, including the last two hitters he faced.

Willow Glen belted nine hits—all singles—and made them stand up for eight runs. The locals rallied for three runs in the first to take the early lead, then opened things up with four in the fourth. They added an insurance run in the sixth.

Dane Gurley, who was on base three of four times, led off with a walk and moved to second with Marriott reached on a fielder's choice. Kellan Barker followed with a single up the middle to chase Gurley home with the game's first run.

Jose Basurto worked the count full before drawing a two-out walk, then Chris Henderson looped a single into right to drive home two more runs.

It remained 3-0 through three innings, thanks to the defense of second baseman Mitchell Loquaci, who made three outstanding plays. First sacker Stephen Anderson also made a nice pick on a one-hop throw to get an out at the bag.

In the fourth, Willow Glen unloaded. Elliott Boesh reached on error by the right fielder, then took second on a wild pitch. Gurley walked before Seth Hein ripped a line single to left-center. Boesh was gunned down at the plate.

But the rally continued when Marriott singled to left to drive home Gurley. Hein scored when Barker reached on an error and Anthony Gotelli ripped a single to left to knock in two more runs.

Marriott took a no-hitter into the fourth but Cameron Rodriguez led off with a double to left. After a pop fly out, Marriott issued a walk. But then he settled down to get the next seven straight batters, one on a diving catch by Henderson in right.

In the top of the sixth, Hein walked, Barker singled and Basurto singled a run home to close out the Willow Glen scoring.

Marriott ran into a jam in the sixth when he allowed a pair of two-out walks. But he fanned the last two hitters on just nine pitches to claim the shutout.

Barker led the 9-hit attack with a couple of singles and Gurley, Hein, Marriott, Gotelli, Basurto, Henderson and Boesh also singled. Left fielder Matt Houlihan lined a shot right at the third baseman in his only at-bat.


Big League win

District 12's Lincoln Glen Big League team nailed a tight 6-5 win over District 44 to advance to the finals of the Section 5 tournament. Lincoln Glen was to meet the District 59-District 44 winner on Monday.