Last Friday, though, was one of the few. The powerful right-hander left his normal position behind the plate to take over on the mound in the seventh inning against Fremont, and he nailed a save in the Wildcats' 11-10 win over the Firebirds.

Howell had already helped the Cats with his bat, blasting a long three-run homer in the fourth to help his club open up a commanding 10-4 lead.

But Fremont answered with five runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 10-9, and after the clubs had traded runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, Los Gatos coach Don Ardissone needed someone to end it in the top of the seventh—so he called on Howell.

And the senior did end it, but it didn't come easy.

Howell walked the first hitter he faced on a 3-2 pitch but then got the second to slap a ground ball to short. Ryan Jensen made a nice play deep into the hole, backhanding the grounder and throwing to second for the force.

Two more walks sandwiched a pop fly to Patrick McDonald in right, and Howell was facing Fremont slugger Scott Boardman with two outs and the bases loaded. Howell got him to hit a comebacker and tossed to Alex Rollin at first base for the final out.

No one was happier to make that last putout than Rollin. The talented right-hander started on the mound for the Cats, but struggled in this one. The normally efficient hurler threw 130 pitches over the first five innings, walking nine while striking out seven. He also hit two batters.

Still, Rollin managed to pick up the mound win for Gatos, running his record to 6-2.

Los Gatos, 17-1 winners over Gunn earlier in the week, improved to 6-3 in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League with the win. The Cats, 9-6 overall, play in the Serra Tournament this week.

Friday's game was an interesting one for the Wildcats. They rallied for four runs in the third and four more in the fourth to take that 10-4 lead, but it was a single run in the fifth that proved the game winner.

Derek Tam ripped a one-out double to center in the fifth, and, an out later, Howell was walked intentionally. Rollin followed with a sharp single to left to drive Tam home.

Tam, 3 for 4 in the win, had opened the game with an infield hit but was forced at second by Jeremy Bays. Howell walked and Rollin drove both runners home with a double down the right field line.

The Firebirds, who had scored a run in the top of the first, scored three in the third on three bases-loaded walks to take a 4-2 lead, but the Cats came fighting back in the home half of the inning.

Howell reached on a catcher's interference, and Rollin, 3 for 4 in the game, singled to center. The two moved up on a balk call, but Howell was tossed out at the plate on Russell Laubach's infield roller. Dan Politi doubled to center to drive in two runs, and Kyle Schafer followed with a two-run homer to right center to give the Cats a lead they would never lose.

Tam started another Los Gatos rally in the fourth when he walked and took second on a wild pitch. Bays reached on an error, then Howell crushed his three-run homer.

Rollin reached on an error, and Politi, also 3 for 4, beat out an infield hit. Schafer followed with his second hit in as many innings when he stroked a run-scoring single to left.

Earlier in the week, Los Gatos struck for eight runs in the first and rolled from there to a rousing 17-1 league win over Gunn.

Derek Thomas was the winning pitcher, evening his record at 1-1, as the Wildcats held the Titans to just six hits.

Los Gatos, meanwhile, pounded out 15 hits in the win. Bays led the way with three singles, and Howell and Logan Schafer ripped two hits apiece.

K. Schafer stroked a triple in the Gatos win, and Ryan Daily and Rishi Satia each doubled. McDonald drove in three runs in the win, and Howell, Politi, Daley and K. Schafer knocked in two each.