The Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic girls' under-14 "A" team won a tournament championship at the Reno Lightning Summer Sizzler softball tournament.
By Dick Sparrer
It was hot... 102 degrees.
But not even the weatherman could predict how hot the Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic would get on the final day of the Reno Lightning Summer Sizzler softball tournament a couple of weeks back.
The Magic, a girls' 14-and-under "A" team, sizzled on the final day of the Sizzler to go undefeated in seven games and win the tournament championship, beating the Northern California Merchants Magic 7-0 in the title game.
It all ended when Courtney Radonich's sizzling liner hit the opposing pitcher in the shin to cap a seven-run rally in the fourth inning of the championship game. The opposition was unable to continue, and had to forfeit the title to Los Gatos-Saratoga.
The Magic overcame the heat and the competition by outscoring seven opponents 28-2 on the final day of the tourney to win seven straight games.
Radonich led the Magic with nine hits, including a double, and Lindsay Meek belted eight hits.
Maryann Brown of Willow Glen had seven hits, including a double, and Lesley Mayhorn, Jamie Yee and Heather Dickenson had four hits each. Tess Nesbitt and Kelley Johnson added three hits apiece, and Margaux Schroder had two hits. Taunya Jaco ripped a triple and Heather Hansen added a single.
Alexis Velez tossed four of the last seven games for the Magic, giving up just a pair of runs. Schroder, Johnson and Andrea Bunten were other pitchers in the tournament.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 14, 1996.
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