Rose Garden Resident
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Photograph by Dave Stephenson
Giant Celebration: The San Jose American Little League Giants celebrate after winning the District 12 major division Tournament of Champions. The Giants knocked off the Almaden Cardinals 8-2 in the tourney title game.
American wins it all in District 12 TOC
Giants win four straight to take tourney title
By Kevin Sparrer
The littlest of Little Leagues has won the biggest of tournaments. On June 21, the San Jose American Giants made a little history. After 15 winless years in the District 12 Tournament of Champions, the Giants not only won the league's first game, but they won the first tournament championship.
San Jose American, which has only two teams in its entire league, met the powerful Almaden South Cardinals on June 21 for in the finals of the major TOC. Almaden, which is composed of two leagues with six teams each, made a daunting opponent for the little San Jose American team, but the Giants stood their ground and went home with a victory.
"We had a really outstanding series in the field," said Giants manager Matt Russo. "Our pitching and defense really pulled us through the tournament."
Cameron Russo threw two complete games in the tourney. The first was a shutout against Saratoga on June 17 where he retired 12 batters on strikes in an 8-0. In the championship game against Almaden South, Russo struck out five and got his second win of the tournament, 8-2.
"Almaden scored the first run of the game," said the elder Russo. "But then we held them scoreless until the sixth."
Mitch Ravizza tossed the second game of the tournament on June 19 against Branham Hills, allowing only one run in a tight 2-1 win. "Our bats were a little quiet," said Russo. "It turned out to be quite a pitcher's duel."
Eric Sullivan threw the third-round game against Willow Glen. Sullivan also allowed only one run in the 8-1 win.
The Giants pitching really came through in the tournament. Though they had three solid pitchers, if one had to come in for relief, then they would have required rest before pitching again and the Giants couldn't afford that. Each pitcher was forced to go the distance, but they all held firm.
Though the Giants bats were not terribly active, they drove in the runs when it counted. Against Almaden, Russo smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first as well as a double later in the game. Alex Gutierrez had a hit and scored twice, while Ravizza belted a double in the win.
Against Willow Glen it was Gutierrez who knocked the long ball. Sullivan helped himself with a pair of singles and Russo hammered out a hit.
Gutierrez slammed out a pair of singles against Branham Hills and Jacob Russell drove in what turned out to be the winning run for the Giants.
Sullivan smashed two doubles in the win over Saratoga. Russo smacked a double, Lawrence Lorenzcano scored a run, Liam Lambert belted a hit, Nick Russo smacked a single and Ravizza roped a triple.
The two teams in San Jose American are forced to play teams outside of their own league during the regular season, playing teams from Cambrian, Quito and Branham Hills. In fact, the Branham Hills team the Giants beat in the second round of the TOCs had split in two meetings during the year.
Rounding out the squad for the San Jose American Giants were Luke Anastasi, Nick Handy, Connor Lambert and Tyler Figueria.
