Jackson Salabert's run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth inning held up for the deciding tally as Mike's Café posted a 2-1 victory over Partners in the Menlo Park Little League City Championships on a cold Friday evening at Burgess Park.

The victory ended a four-year run by Alpine/West Menlo teams in the finals.

Both Salabert and Kodiak Conrad of Partners struck out 10. Conrad was staked to a 1-0 lead when Andrew Cox walked and took second on a wild pitch. Max Gardiner then doubled home Cox.

Conrad kept Mike's Café off the board the first three innings as he struck out seven. He gave up just an infield single during that time.

Mike's finally broke through in the fourth when Jack Gray homered over the fence in left field. Reed Fratt hit a ground-rule double over the fence in center field later in the inning but was stranded.

Mike's Café got two runners on in the fifth via walks, setting up Salabert's game-winning single. It was one of only four hits by Mike's, winner of the Menlo-Atherton Little League title. Partners managed just three hits off Salabert. Neither team committed an error.

-- Palo Alto Online Sports

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