"I couldn't be more proud of how these young men pulled together and were a prime example of a team," said Schaffer. "Every player on our roster played a pivotal role in one game or another. This was a season where it was an entire team success."

And success they had as the locals won the district title and went on to the championship game of Section 5 before eventually coming up short in an extra inning effort.

The locals waltzed through the district tournament, blasting Willow Glen 15-3 in the opener and getting by Branham Hills 11-8 in the next round. The championship game was a rematch with Branham Hills, which Lincoln Glen won handily 15-2.

Justin Jeffrey was a double threat for Lincoln Glen, dominating on the mound and blasting away at the plate. He picked up two complete game wins, firing a three-hitter and a one-hitter while striking out 22. He also carried a big bat, pounding out seven hits including a grand slam, a triple and three doubles while driving in 11 runs. Garrett Armstrong also had a hot bat, ripping 10 hits and picking up six RBI's.

Steve Lowrey got the nod for the start in game two and picked up the win. He got offensive support from Scott Righetti, who nailed a couple of doubles to drive in three runs, and Jason Jeffrey, who banged out two hits to drive in a run and score two.

In addition to the continued output of Armstrong and Ju. Jeffrey in the championship game, Casey Brooks slapped two hits, Kevin Becker drove in two runs and Bryan Hewitt scored two runs.

With the District 12 title under their belts, the locals had visions of frying bigger fish at the Section 5 tourney. They got off to a good start, knocking out an 11-7 win over Cupertino American. Righetti started on the hill and got relief from Lowrey, who fired the final three innings to pick up the win. Ju. Jeffrey remained hot, picking up three hits including a two-bagger. Pat Hopkins showed some power, ripping a double and a triple and scoring three runs. Brooks also had a multiple hit day, poking a couple of singles.

Jeremy Bays took the mound for game two against District 59, firing five solid innings before handing the ball to Eric Ash, who hurled two scoreless innings of relief, resulting in Lincoln Glen banging out a 19-6 win. Bays led the offensive surge with five hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Ash, Brooks, Righetti and Armstrong each had three hits. Nick English, Lowrey and Steve Rebagliati picked up two each. Brooks drove in four runs and Righetti produced three.

Lincoln Glen had a chance to nail down the title in a rematch with District 59 but came up short when it dropped a 12-5 decision. That game left both teams with one loss in the double elimination tourney and set up a showdown for all of the marbles. The teams battled to a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation but District 59 pulled out a 5-3 win in the eighth inning for the Section 5 championship.

Lincoln Glen completed a fine season with a 16-5 record. Other members of the squad included Jimmer Castignani, Billy Robowski and Johno Shaffer.

Major all-stars

The dream and visions of Williamsport, Penn., stayed alive for at least one more week for the Lincoln Glen major division all-stars as they claimed the Section 5 championship. They battled to three straight wins, but it wasn't easy getting there.

The opener against Sunnyvale Serra turned into an old-fashioned pitchers' duel with Lincoln Glen scratching out a 1-0 victory. The locals were able to produce only one hit in the game but it came at the right time. In the top of the second, both Kevin Garish and Matt Anderson reached on errors. Connor Hatfield came through with a clutch single to drive in Garish with the only run of the game.

Zack Malik was on the hill for Lincoln Glen and did a superb job, limiting opposing batters to four hits and striking out nine in a complete game performance.

In game two, Lincoln Glen edged Hollister American 5-4. Kevin Glomb hurled a two-hitter, striking out nine, to get credit for the win. The big blows for the locals came in the fourth on back-to-back homers. Joe Sullivan struck first with a three-run jack and Ryan Albin followed with a solo shot to grab a 4-2 lead.

Headed into the top of the sixth, the score was knotted at 4-4. Glomb reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Sullivan laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move him to third. It was Albin again coming through with a big hit, ripping a single to score Glomb with what would be the winning run.

It was a rematch with Hollister American for the championship and Lincoln Glen pounded out a solid 6-2 win. Glomb gave the locals a 2-0 lead in the first that they never lost. He blasted a two-run homer after Nick Mingione had doubled. Lincoln Glen added one more in the second on a single by K.C. Carr that drove in Matt Anderson.

The locals added three insurance runs in the fifth on a single by Malik that scored Kyle Olugbode and Garish. Malik scored the final run, coming home on a wild pitch. Malik threw a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out six.

The Section 5 championship advanced Lincoln Glen to the Division 2 Tournament scheduled for July 23­29 in Sacramento.