The Cupertino Courier
Sports
C-N all-stars second in junior tourney
By MIKE BARNHART
Winning six of eight games, Cupertino National Little League junior all-stars captured second place in the recent District 44 tournament.
After winning its first game 5-1 over Los Altos and losing the next one 3-1 to Serra, National staved off elimination with five straight wins in six days before falling in the "if necessary" game to Los Altos, July 12 at Sunnyvale's Farrell Field.
The victory string included wins over Sunnyvale National 12-1, Sunnyvale Southern 18-5, Cupertino American 10-0, Mountain View 9-0 and Los Altos 4-2.
"Team defense was the biggest reason for our success," said coach Jim Farmer. "Zero unearned runs in eight games is unbelievable at this level and that takes a team effort."
In the championship game, Cupertino National ran out of gas, stranding 10 runners in a 4-0 loss to Los Altos.
"With Jason Kearns at catcher, Chase Hayhurst in centerfield and Jay Voigt, Kranti Peddada or Tyler Young in the middle infield, we were stronger defensively up the middle than anyone," added the coach. "Kalon Zandbergs and Aaron Mack both stepped up to solidify first base, a position at which both players had limited experience in the regular season."
Farmer also praised the unselfishness of the team pointing to Christian Fatoohi, Vincent Menon and Mack as prime examples.
"There were many guys who could have done many jobs. But guys stepped up to do whatever roles they were given and they did them with enthusiasm," Farmer said. "Christian scored nine runs just as a pinch runner and with limited at-bats. Vincent had four RBIs in only seven official at-bats. And Aaron played four or five different positions and was always ready to play."
CN's roll began with a combined 3-hitter by Menon, Zac Carlsen and Voigt against Sunnyvale National. The errorless defense was sparked by Kearns, who threw out three Sunnyvale baserunners. Cupertino also was able to turn two rally-killing double plays.
The offense was sparked by Voigt's three hits and two apiece by Carlsen and Kevin Wilson. Carlsen, Voigt and Mack all had extra-base hits.
Cupertino National wasted no time against Southern, scoring nine runs in the top of the first inning. National used six pitchers in the 18-5 rout, with Young, the starter, getting credit for the decision.
The offense had plenty of heroes. Voigt was 4 for 5 with a triple. Kearns had two doubles, three walks and five runs scored. Wilson had three hits, Peddada two and Zandbergs a long double.
Against Cupertino American, a team that had posted three straight wins with a total of 42 runs scored, Wilson fired a no-hitter. He retired the first 13 batters of the game, benefiting from sparkling defensive plays by Voigt at shortstop and Peddada at third.
In the fifth, Wilson gave up a walk and a hit batsman, but Fatoohi stifled the rally with two tremendous catches in left field.
In the shutout of Mountain View in the consolation bracket final, Young allowed just one hit in five innings, as CN earned a spot opposite Los Altos in the championship round.
Voigt's sterling pitching effort led to the 4-2 and an "if necessary" game. Voigt pitched shutout ball through the first five innings, allowing just two hits.
National took the lead in the third inning when Hayhurst doubled home Anthony Maldonado. Cupertino scored an important insurance run in the fifth on a squeeze bunt from Menon, and Voigt helped himself with another squeeze bunt in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Los Altos would make things interesting. An infield single, a walk and a fielder's choice left runners at first and third with one out, Kearns threw out a Los Altos base runner attempting to steal for the second out. The play was crucial as the next two batters would reach on infield hits, scoring one run. But Voigt coaxed a pop-up from the Los Altos clean-up hitter to end the game.
In the championship game, Wilson again turned in a strong mound effort. But on offense, Cupertino National couldn't come through with the big hit. They had runners on in six of seven innings but left 10 stranded and could not score as Los Altos played a great defensive game. National was led by Voigt and Maldonado with two hits each.
National's pitching staff was led by Wilson (12 hits allowed, 18 innings, 1.94 ERA), Young (6, 12, 1.17 ERA) and Voigt (8, 9, 1.54). Relievers Mack, Menon, Carlsen, Peddada and Hikaru Matarai combined to allow just three runs in 10 innings.
Offensively, the team was led by Voigt (14 hits, .500 average), Wilson (13, .481), Hayhurst (.444) and Young (.461, .647 on-base average).
On defense, Kearns threw out an incredible 12 of 16 runners attempting to steal and did not allow a passed ball in eight games, Farmer said.
Fondario and Krish Rangarajan were also selected as all-stars but were unable to participate due to injury.
