And both Los Gatos Little League teams in the pool had a shot at posting that record and advancing on in the tournament.

Union and Cambrian had other ideas, though.

Los Gatos National dropped a 2-0 decision to the Union Little League all-stars, and Los Gatos American lost by the same score to Cambrian. The defeats left the Los Gatos clubs with matching 2-2 records, and with the wins both Cambrian and Union finished at 3-1 to tie for first in the pool.

Cambrian was to move on to a Monday clash with Saratoga (4-0 in the North pool) while Union faced Branham Hills (2-2). The winners of the two games play for the district championship on July 12, 5:30 p.m., at Baggerly Field in Los Gatos.

Los Gatos American appeared to be headed for the playoffs after the first two games of the tournament. American blasted Quito 8-1 and knocked off Almaden South 11-5, but then dropped a tough 8-4 nod to rival Los Gatos National and ultimately lost 2-0 to Cambrian.

Los Gatos National, meanwhile, had split its first two games--losing 5-4 to Cambrian and beating Almaden South 6-1. The National boys put themselves in contention for a playoff berth with the win over LG American last Thursday, but then were blanked 2-0 by Union to face elimination.

Evan Hench went the distance to toss a 3-hitter, striking out 10 along the way, to lead the Los Gatos National all-stars to the 8-4 win over Los Gatos American last week.

Preston Anderson was 3 for 3 with two doubles, scored three runs and stole two bases to lead the offensive attack for the winners. Aaron Aguiar had two hits, scored twice, drove in a run and swiped a base and Jake Fordyce belted two hits.

Joey Comeau started on the hill for American, but it was Matt Church who came on with one out in the fourth and shut down National. He struck out two of the six batters he faced.

Marshall Finch went 3 for 4 for American and Preston Rind had two hits to knock in three runs. Jake Raynaud reached base three times, scored three runs and stole two bases.

It was a four-run National rally in the third inning that proved the difference in the game. Anderson, Aguiar, Fordyce and Hench each singled and Spencer Moon ripped a double to center field to put the National boys up 5-3 and give them a lead they'd never lose.

Hench walked a batter in the fourth, but struck out the side before National struck again. Rind singled home a run and scored on a single by Aguiar to up National's lead to 7-3.

American had taken the early lead with a run in the top of the first. Finch singled but was forced at second on Raynaud's ground ball. Raynaud took second on a passed ball and scored on a single to left by Rind.

National came right back, though, with a run in the bottom of the first. Anderson doubled and eventually scored on an error to knot the game at 1-1.

Hench hit the first batter he faced in the second, but then struck out the side. Comeau nearly matched the effort with two Ks to open the bottom of the second. American got out of the inning when A.J. Meyers made an outstanding catch in left field.

American jumped out to a 3-1 lead with two runs to open the third. Meyers was hit by a pitch and replaced by courtesy runner Justin Williams. Finch singled but was forced again by Raynaud. Rind followed with a single to drive in two runs.

That set the stage for National's four-run rally in the third that would ultimately clinch the win.

Moon robbed Rind of a home run with a catch at the fence later the game.

Hench finished the game strong. With two American runners on base in the sixth, he struck out two batters looking, then got the final out on a ground ball.

National had opened the week with a clutch 6-1 win over Alamden South behind a 2-hitter by Fordyce. He struck out 12 in his complete game effort.

Rounding of the Los Gatos National 11 team, managed by Jere Hench, were Blake Harrington, Vincent Augustine, Nolan Cole, Jeffrey Leong, Ryan Cooley, Greg Mayo and Gregory Cox.

American dropped out of the tourney after the tough 2-0 loss to Cambrian Park. Raynaud tossed a complete game for Los Gatos and took a shutout into the sixth inning. Cambrian scored two runs in the top of the sixth to break up the scoreless tie.

Finch singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Los Gatos, but he was left stranded as the locals dropped the decision.

Raynaud was perfect for the first three innings with a couple of strikeouts. He finished with a 4-hitter and struck out six.

Other members of the American squad, managed by Mark Raynaud, were Sean Niemann, Trevor Comstock, Jimmy Eisner, Teddy Enfantino, Bryan Rose and Justin Williams.

10-year-old all-stars

Matt Bergandi went the distance to flip a 2-hitter to lead the Los Gatos National 10-year-old all-stars to a tight 4-3 win over Cambrian on Friday.

Bergandi helped his own cause with a couple of hits and teammate Tyler Perkins also had two hits. James Sena and Danny DeFever each doubled in the win.

A day later, National lost a 12-2 decision to Branham Hills. Sena had two hits for Los Gatos and Perkins struck out five in two innings of mound work.

National will be back in action on July 14, 5:30 p.m., in a game against Almaden South at the Lincoln Glen Little League minor division field. Los Gatos will close out pool play on July 16, 12:30 p.m., against Saratoga on the same field.

American opened the tourney with a 12-10 win over Quito on Friday and was to face San Jose American on Saturday. LG American meets Willow Glen on July 14, 5:30 p.m., on the Lincoln Glen major diamond, and closes out pool play on July 16, 10 a.m., against Almaden North on the same field.

12-year-old all-stars

The Los Gatos American and National major division all-star teams opened play last weekend at the Saratoga Little League's Congress Springs Park.

National was to face Almaden North on Friday and Almaden South on Saturday and will take on Union on July 14, 5:30 p.m., and Willow Glen on July 16, 10 a.m.

American opened against host Saratoga on Saturday and will meet Branham Hills on July 12 and Cambrian Park on July 14 in a couple of 5:30 p.m. games before wrapping up pool play against Lincoln Glen on July 16, 10 a.m.

Tournament standings through the first weekend of play follow: North Pool--Almaden South 1-0, Union 1-0, Almaden North 1-1, Los Gatos National 1-1, San Jose American 0-1, Willow Glen 0-1; South Pool--Branham Hills 1-0, Quito 1-0, Saratoga 1-0, Cambrian Park 1-1, Los Gatos American 0-1, Lincoln Glen 0-2.