The Wildcats were playing two clubs below them in the standings in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. And while Sanfilippo was expecting a couple of competitive ballgames, he was also hoping for a couple of wins to keep pace in the De Anza race.

It wasn't to be. Los Gatos committed five errors in the first three innings and ended up dropping a disappointing 5-4 decision to Cupertino to open the week.

The Cats fought back with a 12-2 win over Los Altos two days later to improve to 10-5 in league play.

"In our five league losses, the only team to beat us has been us," said Sanfilippo.

Still, the coach was pleased to see his Cats unload for 12 hits in a Friday win over Los Altos and he's hoping for a strong finish in the final league games against Milpitas, Fremont and Palo Alto.

"We're still closing in on a few things in league," he said. "We're in good shape for the [Central Coast Section] playoffs, we just have to try to work for a better seed—we'd like to get a home game."

Los Gatos plays just one league game this week, visiting Milpitas on May 8, 3:30 p.m. The Cats will host Prospect in a non-league game on May 9, noon, prior to the annual alumni game.

The Wildcats close out the league season at home against Fremont on May 12 and at Palo Alto on May 14.

"We have three one-run losses against [Palo Alto]," said Sanfilippo. "We have some unfinished business with them."

Los Gatos made short work of Los Altos last week. Kyle Jensen threw a complete game, scattering seven hits and walked just a pair. He struck out four and allowed just one earned run.

"It was nice to finally support Kyle with some runs," said the coach. "The good thing about Friday's game is that we scored in every inning but the sixth."

Jeremy Bays led the bat attack for the Cats. He was 4 for 4 with a couple of doubles to knock in two runs in the win.

Jensen clubbed a double in the game and Michael Brienzo, Russell Laubach, Marty Mullins, Nick Perrone, Matt Hirakawa and Anthony Skaran each had run-scoring singles. Justin Schafer singled.

The Cats scored a run in the first to take the early lead. A run-scoring single by Bays keyed a three-run rally in the second that made it 4-0.

Gatos broke the game open by unloading for five runs in the third. J. Schafer singled and Michael Gault reached on an error. Hirakawa singled home a run and Brienzo drove in a run with a ground out. Mullins singled to knock in a run, Bays doubled home one more and Laubach capped the rally with a run-scoring single.

The Eagles fought back with two in the top of the top of the fourth to cut it to 9-2, but Gatos picked up one in the bottom of the frame. Perrone singled and J. Schafer was hit by a pitch. After Perrone stole third, Brienzo singled him home.

Los Gatos picked up two insurance runs in the fifth. Bays singled, Logan Schafer walked and Perrone reached on an error to load the bases. Spencer Maltbie drove in a run with a ground out and Skaran singled through the hole into left field to knock in one more.

Mullins had moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order after ripping three hits against Cupertino earlier in the week.

"He's real aggressive with the bat and uses the whole field," said Sanfilippo of his sophomore catcher.

Brienzo doubled and ripped a two-run single in the fourth for the Wildcats. Bays doubled and L. Schafer singled.

Mullins singled, stole second and scored when Kyle Blair reached on an error to tie the game 4-4 in the sixth, but the Pioneers scored in the bottom of the seventh.