The group of players that comprise this year’s Los Gatos Little League 11-and-under All Star team had never won a District 12 championship. Not last year as 10-year-olds. Or two years ago as 9-year-olds. If things were going to turn around this summer, the players would have to embrace the challenge issued to them from the coaching staff.
“We started the season and asked them to come together as a team,” Los Gatos manager Anthony Sammut said, moments after a 6-3 win over San Jose American on July 10. “We let them know that they all made it individually to this point (being selected as an All Star), but you will not make it far and succeed unless you come together as a team. That’s what we hammered the entire season and they took on the challenge. They put in the hard work everyday and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Beyond proud. They 100 percent did it.”
Los Gatos opens Section 5 Tournament play against District 39 champion Capitola-Soquel on July 16 at 5:30 pm. Quito-Saratoga Little League is hosting the tournament, meaning Los Gatos won’t have to log hours on the road to get to the host site—which is typical at this stage in the postseason.
“Quito-Saratoga is like a home field for us,” Sammut said. “Couldn’t have worked out better.”
The LGLL 11U roster includes Arjun Gogia, James Foley, Christian Lucq, Noah Madeiros, Corey Peake, Ryan Nielsen, Hudson Laubach, Theo Kutting, Jack Howard, Thomas Leitch, Jake Pearl and Tyler Sammut. Chad Kutting and Sean Lucq serve as the assistant coaches.
Los Gatos dropped the first game of the District 12 Tournament before reeling off five consecutive victories. Three of those wins came in pool play, including an 11-4 decision over the same San Jose American team it played in the title contest. The rematch was much closer and wasn’t decided until the penultimate fifth inning.
That’s when Los Gatos scored four runs on just two hits, taking advantage of an error and a hit by pitch to turn what was a 3-2 deficit into a three-run advantage. The key hit came from Madeiros, who singled in two runs with one out to give Los Gatos the lead for good. Pearl started and pitched 4 ⅔ solid innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs.
Tyler Sammut, the manager’s son, recorded the final four outs to close things out. When asked to describe the range of emotions he was experiencing during the game, Anthony Sammut didn’t hesitate.
“Stressful, full of anxiety and full of nerves,” he said. “Very nerve-wracking. This wasn’t for the coaches or parents, but it was for the kids. We wanted the best for them.”
Los Gatos was limited to five hits, but it was resourceful in finding additional ways to get on base. The team drew seven walks and took advantage of four San Jose American errors. It also played solid defense, receiving stellar infield coverage from shortstop Laubach. After a somewhat rough first inning in which he gave up two runs, Pearl settled down nicely and got stronger as the game went on.
“That’s emotional maturity,” Sammut said. “He takes everything to heart, he put his trust in his team and continues to come back and battle. He pitched amazing.”
As is the case with most Little League teams, the manager and the assistant coaches all have a son playing on the team. For the Sammuts, Lucqs and Kuttings, the moments are extra rewarding.
“It’s a special place in my heart to be able to coach my son,” Sammut said. “And to see Sean and Chad’s sons out there doing well is something you really enjoy, too.”
Sammut, Lucq and Kutting promised the players three things should they win the District 12 championship this season. An outing to Taco Bell and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk won’t be much of an issue. However, it’s the third promise that will turn heads—literally.
“Yes, coach Chad will be shaving his head and cutting in a beautiful mustache at some point soon,” Sammut said.
12U All Stars take title
Less than 24 hours after the 11U team’s victory, the 12U squad captured its District 12 championship with a resounding 10-0, four-inning, mercy-rule win over Branham Hills at Baggerly Field.
In going 5-0, Los Gatos completed one of the most dominating runs in District 12 history. It outscored its five opponents by a combined margin of 60-9—no, that’s not a typo—including an 18-3 win over Quito-Saratoga in the semifinals before the mercy-rule victory over Branham Hills. Los Gatos opens Section 5 Tournament action against District 59 champion Santa Teresa on July 16 at the Aptos Little League Complex.
Los Gatos beat Branham Hills 10-1 in pool play in what turned out to be a prelude for the championship game. In just four innings, Los Gatos racked up 10 hits, including a monster performance from Dean Drew, who went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run. Daiden Christian, Eli Spiler and Parsa Schmidt had two hits apiece.
Schmidt pitched a four-inning shutout, allowing just three hits in the process.
Intermediate team champs as well
The Los Gatos Little League Intermediate (13U) All Stars defeated Sunnyvale 5-3 to win the Section 5 Tournament on July 7. Los Gatos beat Sunnyvale 6-0 in its first game before routing Santa Cruz 19-7 in the semifinals to secure a spot in the championship round. Sunnyvale got through the elimination bracket and needed to beat Los Gatos twice to win the title, but Los Gatos was simply too tough.
The Los Gatos roster includes Campbell Dove, Charlie Nielsen, Cruz Barragan, Josh Granum, Logan Williams, Luke Reaugh, Mason Derakhshandeh, Mickey Denevi, Nico Madeiros, Oliver Chang, Tommy Rabitz and Troy Amburgey. Manager Damon Williams leads the team along with assistant coaches Todd Madeiros and Brett Granum.
After winning Section 5, the team advanced to the NorCal Tournament in Marysville. It lost its first game but then reeled off three consecutive victories to land in the championship round against undefeated Granada/Livermore. Game 1 is Thursday, July 16. Los Gatos must win to force a winner-take-all game which would be played on July 17.
