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Cupertino National juniors lose two Section 5 tourney
By DICK SPARRER
Nick Bertolucci gave the Cupertino National Little League one final reason to cheer this season.
The slugger blasted a solo home run in the sixth inning against Gilroy in the Section 5 junior division (ages 13-14) all-star tournament last week.
The blast proved too little, too late for the National 'stars, who dropped a 12-5 nod to Gilroy. But it did provide one final thrill to what has been a thrilling season for the Cupertino National juniors.
The Cupertino National Rangers won the District 44 Tournament of Champions, and a few members of that club moved on to play for the National all-star team that won the District 44 championship.
The title earned Cupertino National a place in the Section 5 tournament in Sunnyvale, but the locals dropped two straight to face elimination in the rugged tourney.
Cupertino lost its opener 5-2 to Oak Ridge (District 59), then lost 12-5 to Gilroy (District 39).
Gilroy jumped out to an early lead with five runs in the first, then pounded Cupertino for two in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth to lead 12-0.
The game crew from Cupertino would not quit. National rallied for two runs each in the fourth and fifth, then Bertolucci slapped his solo homer in the sixth to cut the lead to 12-5. But that was as close as Cupertino could get.
Kevin Cunningham led an eight-hit attack for Cupertino with three singles. He also swiped two bases and scored a run.
Members of the District 44 champion junior all-star team from Cupertino National were Bertolucci, Cavey, Cunningham, Barclay, Josh Schroeder, Jason Dias, Jarrod Esquibel, Andrew Pau, Nick Burrow, Jarrod Burdett, Matt Delgado, Jason Plank and Cameron Walters.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
