Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Willow Glen falls,Lincoln Glen splits

By Kevin Sparrer

Daniel Raley blasted only one hit for the Almaden North all-stars last Monday night, but it was a big one.

Raley crushed the game-tying home run for Almaden in a District 12 Little League 10/11-year-old all-star game on June 30 that led to a 14-6 victory over Willow Glen at Saratoga's Congress Springs Park.

Almaden trailed for most of the game until the bottom of the fourth, when Raley led off the inning with a big fly to tie the game 6-6. Sam McDonald smacked a single and went to second on an error by the left fielder. After going to third on a wild pitch, McDonald scored on a single by Kevin Asplund to give Almaden the lead for the first time since the bottom of the first, 7-6.

Almaden went on to score seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. When Willow Glen was unable to mount a comeback, Almaden ran away with a victory.

Asplund was the clutch hitter for Almaden, ripping four hits in four at-bats, including a pair of doubles, and McDonald whacked three hits with one double.

Almaden also had a host of players knock the ball out of the park. Raley, Max Aiken and Curt Calomeni all sent the baseball on long rides.

Scott Clark smacked a double, and Daniel Del Carlo, Brandon Blum, Michael Kelker and Jacob Valverde each knocked singles.

Willow Glen's big inning came in the top of the second, rallying for six runs. Joseph Garcia led off the inning with a ground ball up the middle that he beat out. Garcia was thrown out when Robbie Guidero reached on a fielder's choice. Michael O'Brien and Anthony Alvarez drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Guidero scored when Hayley Halkovic hit a high chopper up the middle that advanced all the runners and kept the bases loaded. Riley Preston walked to score O'Brien before Cody Buchanon walked to score Alvarez.

With only one out and the bases still loaded, Almaden brought in a new pitcher who gave up a double to Thomas Nazarenus that scored both Halkovic and Preston and left Buchanon on third and Nazarenus on second. The next batter struck out for the second out, and Garcia came back up and drove in Buchanon on a ground ball to the shortstop that Garcia beat out for the final run of the inning.

In fact, aside from the top of the second, Willow Glen was allowed only one other hit by Nathan Rooke in the top of the third.

The win was Almaden's second in the tournament after downing Cambrian Park 13-0 on June 28. Clark led the offensive attack, blasting a homer and a double, Blum knocked a double and a single and Calomeni ripped two hits.

For Cambrian, Danny Robero smacked two hits and Evan Andero whacked a single.

Cambrian also fell to Los Gatos American 13-12 on June 27 in eight innings. Andero again led the offense for Cambrian, ripping three hits, including a double. Alex Zapate smashed three hits, Mike Machado roped a triple and a single, Robero knocked two hits, and Eric Canniff and Mike Gaglliaso each hammered singles.

The rest of the Cambrian team includes Marcel Gomez, A.J. Galdino, Jake Pinkerton, Mike Guarino, Mike Martin and Hamden Carroll.

Willow Glen's first game in the tournament was a 14-3 loss to Branham Hills on June 28.

Only Preston, Matthew Piro, John Ahrens and O'Brien had hits in the loss.

Joe Goode also plays for Willow Glen.

Branham lost to Saratoga 9-5 on June 26 in its first game of the tournament.

Union bested San Jose American 13-1 on June 30 with Kyle Anderson roping a pair of doubles and a single for Union.

San Jose American's only run came on a homer by John Helmers. John-John Azevedo roped a double, while Sean Chalmers, Daniel Kono and Ben Bray added singles.

Union also bested Los Gatos National 11-0 on June 28.

San Jose American fell in its first game against Almaden South 12-4 on June 28, with Helmers smacking a homer and Azevedo ripping a double. Nick Vierra belted two hits and Kono smashed one.

The other members of San Jose American include Brandon Jaffries, Paul Lozano, Matthew Keton and Alex Mastrocola.

Almaden South also defeated Quito 7-6 on June 26.

Quito lost a second time on June 28 to Lincoln Glen 10-8.

Lincoln Glen's big hitter was Jordan Milligan, who smacked three hits, and Nick Dotzler roped two hits, but Joe Russo had the biggest hit, knocking one over the fence for a homer. Nick Lion, Joey Cahn and Matt Vargas also had hits for Lincoln Glen.

Lincoln Glen fell in its first game 7-4 against Los Gatos National on June 27.

Russo smacked another one over the fence and had another single, while Milligan, Jacob Holder, Dotzler and Pat Hawkins each belted hits.

The rest of the Lincoln Glen team includes Tommy Nichols, Dave Delarocha, Tommy Soltis and Alex Alvarado.

Pool play continues through July 5, when all 12 teams in the tournament will play their fourth games, and the top two teams from each pool will continue to the playoffs held on July 7 and July 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Saratoga.