Little League resumes play Little League resumes play (April 28, 2004)

By David Hansen
M-A Little League staff

Menlo-Atherton Little League play resumed at Willow Field Monday, April 19, after a two-week break. Draeger's climbed to the top of the standings with two victories, while Brix quietly took second place from Lutticken's by mere percentage points.

Lutticken's prevailed over Goetz Bros., 6-4, Monday. Nils Gilbertson was outstanding on the mound for Lutticken's, and got key defensive assistance from center fielder John Athens, who hauled in a big fly, then threw out a runner at home for an inning-ending double play. Goetz made some noise with RBI singles from Chris Gaertner, Charlie Bradford and Alex Stephenson, but it was too little, too late.

Draeger's defeated Anderson's 6-3 Tuesday, April 20.

On Wednesday, Lutticken's continued its strong play with an 8-4 win over Cashin Co. in a game highlighted by Lutticken's five-run fourth inning. Casey Eason started the hit parade with a triple, followed by doubles from Riley Fallon and John Athens. A three-run sixth-inning rally by Cashin featured big drives from Russ DeSandre and Austin Hume; Cashin's Wally Hansen had three hits.

Goetz Bros. defeated Anderson's Thursday, 10-7.

In the early game at Willow Field on Saturday, April 24, Draeger's beat rival Lutticken's, 7-1, to ice its lead in the standings. Cashin Co. followed with an 11-9 win over Goetz Bros. Robby Galliani had three hits to lead the victors. Jake Batchelder, Cameron Winn, Wally Hansen and Austin Hume all had doubles in the nine-run third inning. Goetz made a game of it, picking up six runs in the fifth, with key hits from Reid Gaa and Jeff Keller.

Brix closed out the week's action with an 8-2 thrashing of Anderson's. Peyton Smith, Hunter Shaw, Tomas O'Donnell and Reed O'Connell combined on a two-hitter, assisted by sparkling defense from Jack Larson and Cameron Bell. Tomas O'Donnell sent one deep for his first Majors home run.

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