Willow Glen Resident
Sports
Lincoln Glen falls to Almaden in TOC semi's
By Kevin Sparrer
Ben Maxwell doesn't get a lot of pitches to hit, but when he does he makes the opposing pitcher pay.
Maxwell, playing for the Almaden Little League major division Braves, led his team through the regular season with a perfect record and then to a District 12 Tournament of Champions title, going 2 for 2 in the final game with a double, a solo homer, a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Maxwell also contributed as a pitcher, throwing 3 2/3 innings in the final game. Maxwell struck out eight and allowed only one run in his time on the mound.
The Braves didn't get any breaks. Already the team to beat coming into the TOC, the Braves had to win four straight to take the tourney crown and in the end they had to face another Almaden team that had played them hard in two past meetings. The Marlins tied the game in the fourth, but ultimately it was the Braves taking the 8-4 win and the title on June 20 at the Quito Little League field at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos.
The Braves finished the year an amazing 25-0.
"It was a fantastic finish to a fantastic season," said Braves head coach Brad Rocca. "We just played never die Braves baseball."
After the Marlins tied the game 4-4 in the top of the fourth, the Braves took control in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning. With one out, the top of the Braves order came to the plate. Kyle Marquez ripped a line drive single to right before Michael Rocca and Maxwell drew back-to-back walks loading the bases. After a second out, Robert Moffat-Miller hit a slow roller to the third baseman. The third sacker charged hard and tried to return to third for the force out but was too late, allowing Rocca to score and the bases stayed loaded.
Scott McCoy walked to drive in Marquez before Anthony Santamoor smashed a ground ball through the left side of the infield, scoring both Maxwell and Moffat-Miller. Even though McCoy was caught trying to go to third for the last out of the inning, it was enough runs to take the win.
For the Marlins it was Dylan Bell who stood out again on the mound. Bell threw 4 2/3, but ran out of outs to complete the game. Bell struck out 12 of the dangerous Braves hitters and allowed only five hits.
"Bell pitched well again," said Rocca. "It was obvious that the Marlins came to play. They had a terrific season."
Offensively for the Braves, Marquez knocked two hits and scored twice, Michael Bellinger belted a double and drove in a run while Santamoor had a base hit and drove in two.
Travis Painter and Troy Kenyon led the offensive attack for the Marlins.
Earlier in the week the Braves had to play twice, both on June 18 and 19.
On June 19 the Braves topped the Willow Glen Red Sox 3-2 with McCoy leading the offense with a pair of hits, while Connor Sexton got a hit and scored a run. Bellinger, Maxwell and Rocca all singled. Marquez and Santamoor both scored runs in the win.
For the Red Sox, Robert Baldwin-Gray led the attack at the plate with a pair of hits, while both Grant Longmire and Christopher Byrne singled and scored a run. Bret Bigger, Dakota Bramer and Corey Byler all got a hit.
On June 18 the Braves downed the Los Gatos Giants 10-0. Maxwell was on the mound for the Braves. He struck out six and allowed only three hits in his four innings.
At the plate it was McCoy who had the big bat, blasting a pair of doubles.
The Marlins played only one game on June 19, downing Lincoln Glen 6-4.
The Almaden team carried some heavy bats, roping many extra bases hits, but the heavy hitter was Painter, who smashed a grand slam and a double in the win.
Lincoln Glen also had some big hits with Graham Moore crushing a home run and Justin Bruce blasting a homer of his own. Jimmy Riley singled and scored, while Trevor Borja knocked a hit.
On June 18 Lincoln Glen defeated Branham Hills 7-6 to make it to the final round. Again Lincoln Glen had some heavy hitters with David Gutierrez blasting a homer, a single and scoring three times. Calvin Owen smashed a triple and a double, Bruce added a double and two runs, and Taylor Meeker also doubled and scored. Collin Whitney and Michael Johnston both singled, and Riley scored.
District 12 Minor TOC
Branham Hills came out on top in the District 12 minor division TOC by defeating the Union Astros in the championship game on June 21 at the Saratoga Little League field at Congress Springs Park.
Branham had reached the title round with a thrilling 10-9 win over Almaden South, scoring in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the victory.
Union had an even more difficult time in the semifinals. It took the Astros two days to defeat San Jose American Giants. Darkness caused the June 19 game to be postponed, and the Astros had to come back on June 20 to take the Giants 11-10 in 10 innings.
Branham Hills had opened the tourney with a 4-0 win over host Saratoga on June 16, then two days later knocked off Almaden North 15-11.
Union topped Los Gatos American 12-7 in the first round, and after a second-round bye, eliminated San Jose American a game later. SJ American had blanked Los Gatos National 10-0 in the second round of the tourney.
Gatos National had opened the tournament with a 9-6 win over Cambrian Park. The same day, SJ American beat Willow Glen 8-5, Almaden South topped Lincoln Glen 9-1 and Almaden North blanked Quito 10-0.
