While the Atlanta Braves have been running up the best won-loss statistics in Major League Baseball, their Little League counterparts in Los Gatos have been putting up pretty good numbers, too.

The Gatos Braves backed up sensational regular season numbers by winning the league tournament and the District 12 Tournament of Champions to post a 26-1 season record—the best major division record since 1987 in the Los Gatos Little League.

The Braves opened the TOC with an 8-0 win over Quito, then pounded Lincoln Glen 10-3 before edging the Willow Glen Yankees 1-0 in the tournament title game. It was the first Los Gatos TOC championship at the major division level since 1995.

Los Gatos had to go extra innings to beat Willow Glen in the finals, scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh to break a scoreless tie.

"It was a great Little League game," said Los Gatos manager Steve Zavodnick. "Willow Glen has a very good team and they should be very proud of their performance."

Los Gatos should be equally proud.

Twelve-year-old hurler Steven Zavodnick threw a two-hit shutout over six innings, striking out 11 and walking just one, to get the Braves into extra innings in the title game. Kyle Johnson came on in relief to put down the Yanks in the top of the seventh, and Gatos won it with a run in the bottom of the frame—with Johnson delivering the key hit.

John Cameron walked a one-out walk and Jamie Eldredge beat out a bunt single. An out later, Johnson belted a two-strike pitch for a run-scoring single to give Gatos the victory and the TOC crown.

The younger Zavodnick and Willow Glen's Chris Henderson locked up in a real pitchers' duel through five innings, throwing zeroes at each other in the two-way shutout.

Zavodnick gave up a single to Kellan Barker in the second—Barker had homered twice a night earlier in an 11-1 win over the Union Pirates. But the Gatos ace got the next hitter to hit a ground ball to Johnson at second. Johnson tagged Barker going by, then threw on to Justin Lewis at first for a double-play.

Zavodnick didn't allow another hit until Wesley DeBolt opened the sixth with a single. But the hard-throwing pitcher struck out the next three hitters to get out of the jam.

Los Gatos threatened in the bottom of the sixth when Johnson and Nick Hirschman each singled. Lewis came up with two out and drilled a liner to right, but the right fielder made a good catch to end the inning.

Zavodnick hit his inning limit after six frames and handed the pitching chores over to Johnson. The reliever got the first hitter to bounce out to second, but Barker followed with his second hit of the night. But the next hitter hit a comebacker to Johnson, and he started another double-play in motion. He flipped to Zavodnick, now playing shortstop, for the force at second and he threw on to Lewis at first to complete the inning-ending double-play.

Johnson had a big night for the Braves. Not only was he the winning pitcher, but he was 4 for 4 with the game-winning hit. Hirschman added a pair of singles and Eldredge and Lewis also singled.

A night earlier, Hirschman had tossed a complete game in a 10-3 win over the Paine Financial of the Lincoln Glen Little League. Hirschman struck out five and walked just three in his four-hitter.

Johnson ripped three doubles for the Braves and Zavodnick doubled and belted a solo home run in the sixth. Hirschman supported his own cause by going 3 for 3 and Lewis doubled twice. John Sands also doubled in the win and Jack Schweitzer and Kevin Cage each singled.

Los Gatos will now co-host the District 12 major division all-star tournament with Cambrian Park. Tournament play begins July 5 when Los Gatos hosts Lincoln Glen at 10 a.m. Games will be played at both Little League parks with the finals to be played at Los Gatos.

All-star play in other divisions begins this week at fields throughout the West Valley area.

Los Gatos was to open the 8-year-old tournament last Saturday. Gatos will face Lincoln Glen on June 25 and Union on June 27 in a pair of games at Branham Hills.

The Los Gatos 9-year-old all-stars also opened play on Saturday. They will take on Willow Glen on June 25 at 5:30 p.m., Quito on June 27 at 5:30 p.m. and Branham Hills on June 28 at 1 p.m., all at Quito.

It's a similar slate for the Los Gatos 11-year-old all-stars. Gatos opened on Monday against Union, and the locals will meet Cambrian Park on June 25 at 5:30 p.m., Quito on June 28 at 10 a.m. and Union on June 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the American Little League field.

The 9-10 division all-stars open postseason play on July 3 against Lincoln Glen at 5:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Glen field.