Lopez twirled a no-hit, no-run gem against the Cupertino American Typhoons on June 18, leading the Sunnyvale National Bandits to a 7-0 victory and the District 44 crown. She struck out 11 Typhoons and walked five.

It was the second stellar effort by a Bandits pitcher during the four-team, single-elimination event at Ortega Park. Corina Rios had recorded 14 strikeouts while shutting out the Sunnyvale Metro Eagles 11-0 in the semifinals.

Nicole Arevalo led the batting attack against the Metro Eagles, banging out three hits and scoring three runs. Cristina Lopez (two hits), Christina Meneses (three RBIs) and Arevalo (two runs) were the Bandits' offensive leaders in the title game.

Chrissy Montez, Shyanne Rodriguez, Treasure Rodriguez, Reanne Flores, Doreen Chan, Jessica Holmes and Jillian Gerrity all contributed to the Bandits championship season. The Bandits' manager was Sharon Zolezzi. Coaches were Michael Arevalo and Debbie Greenberg.

The Cupertino American Typhoons reached the championship game by romping past the Sunnyvale Southern Jaguars 15-3 in the semi-finals, a game ended by 10-run rule after four innings. A 12-run second inning put the game out of reach.

Katie Thurman was the Typhoons top hitter in the win with a triple, double and single. Grace Mercado and Maija Granfors provided a defensive highlight when they combined for a double play. Winning pitcher Ana Ficovich sailed through the first three innings without allowing a hit, before the Jaguars rallied for three runs in the last inning.

The Typhoons, who were led by managers Chris Marlowe and Mitch Pruett and coach Jeff Calvert, had many contributors throughout the season. Other team members were Ali Burrow, Amy Calvert, Ashlyn Contag, Elise Eitel, Gail Bassett, Hannah Marlowe, Maddie Pruett, Michelle Hauer, Megan Clifford, Nicole Harless and Sarah Malone.

Pirates take minor title

A tell-tale first inning paved the road to victory for the Pirates in the championship game of the Cupertino National Little League minor playoffs.

After starting pitcher Austin Burrow escaped a bases-loaded jam without allowing a run in the top of the first, the Pirates scored five times in the bottom of the inning, then rolled to a 15-1 win.

Burrow, who pitched the first three innings of the title game, struck out two batters to put down the Red Sox threat in the first. Joe Lettire's two-run triple was the biggest hit for the Pirates in the last of the first.

Lettire, who had three hits, also pitched three scoreless innings to close the game. Ben Alberts' diving catch in the outfield ruined another Red Sox scoring bid.

Alberts, Patrick Valdez, Burrow and Lettire shared the pitching chores during the Pirates four-game run to the title. The Pirates were unbeaten in the seven-team, double-elimination tourney held at Kennedy Middle School. They posted wins over the Red Sox 16-10, the Cardinals 9-6 and the Blue Jays 16-8.

The Pirates moved on to the District 44 Minor TOC, but lost to a strong Moreland Giants team in the opening round. Other members of the Pirates were leadoff hitter and top base-stealer Mihir Sherlekar, Troy Mitchell, Akash Agarwal, Ajay Agarwal, Nathan Schadle, Drew Granzella, Ajinkya Joshi and Kyle Ching.