Celebrating Independence Day on the basepaths
Gilroy – Sandlot-Pizza N’ Stuff successfully defended the B Division championship Monday as the Gilroy Community Services Department concluded the 33rd annual Co-Rec Fourth of July Softball Tournament on four local diamonds.
Sandlot powered to a 3-0 record, including victories 21-0 and 12-4 in the final rounds of the six-team double-elimination event.
Kutz & Colors also went unbeaten to capture the C Division crown. The Stylists posted a 4-0 mark in the nine-team event, including two wins over runner-up Joe’s Italian Restaurant, 11-6 and 12-9.
The Hustlers finished second in the B Division after battling through the losers’ bracket to secure three consecutive wins.
The Hustlers eased past the Rebels 11-1 Monday morning, then defeated U No It 0-10 in reach the final three in the tournament.
The Hustlers added a 9-8 edging of Chicks N’ Sticks, coming up with the deciding run in the seventh inning on a walk to Ruben Ramirez and a single from Rich Rodriquez.
Sandlot-Pizza N’ Stuff erased a 2-0 Hustlers lead after two frames with a three-run third and four runs in the fourth frame. Celia Bonilla and Cameron Bautista notched three hits apiece for the winners in the championship tilt. Richie Rodriquez went
3-for-3 for the second-place club.
Chicks N’ Sticks won twice Sunday night to set up the third-place surge. Benjie Dequin’s second home run of the game highlighted a six-run seventh as the Sticks snapped a 7-7 tie with U No It. The Sticks won the opener 13-9. Dequin added two homers in the 14-9 nightcap nod over the Hustlers.
U No It finished fourth, earning the position with a 10-9 win over Dee’z Nutz and Cherries.
Jason Livingston smacked two home runs in the title game to help Kutz and Colors past Joe’s 12-9. Ray Walton homered and Kenny Hopf laced a single, double and triple as Joe’s rebounded from a 9-0 deficit after three innings.
Joe’s earned a spot in the finals with a 1-9 win over Dutchman’s Pizza. Norma Gutierrez poked an RBI-single in a three-run sixth as Joe’s Italian drew even at 9-9. Andrew Bollinger doubled and scored on a Christina Perez single in the seventh for the deciding marker for Joe’s.
While Kutz and Colors defeated Just For Fun 15-4 Sunday night in the opening round, Joe’s nudged Dutchman’s Pizza 13-12.
Dutchman’s claimed third place, completing
a three-game winning streak with a 15-7 win over Let’s Do This. The Pizza club began Monday’s action with a 21-12 victory over Going Postal and a 31-8 win over Pacific Coast Bail Bonds.
Let’s Do This took fourth place, earning wins over Going Postal 14-6 and Just For Fun 8-2.
