M-A Little League opens season at Willow Field M-A Little League opens season at Willow Field (March 31, 2004)

By David Hansen
M-A Little League staff

Sporting a new, blue home-run fence and the infield dirt from now-closed Burgess Field, Willow Field in Menlo Park hosted the opening games of the 2004 Majors season Saturday, March 20.

Draeger's, Lutticken's and Brix dominated the action that day, with Lutticken's continuing its winning ways all through the week. Draeger's ended with three wins on the week, while Brix put away two.

Guido Franke's defense and Spencer Lamb's powerful double in his Major's debut sparked Draeger's in its opener as it rolled over Cashin Co., 11-6. Three innings of strong pitching by Cashin veteran Spencer Wise and excellent glove work by Jake Batchelder and Turner Baty were not enough to stem the Draeger's hitting onslaught. Wes Hagman and Matt Crowder had multi-hit games for the victors, as did Wally Hansen for Cashin.

In other opening day action, Lutticken's edged Anderson's, 2-1, and Brix prevailed over Goetz Bros. in a 12-11 slugfest. Mackey McGibbon had a key, two RBI hit for Goetz.

On a chilly Monday afternoon at Willow Field, Lutticken's posted its second victory of the week. Pitcher Chace Eason allowed Cashin Co. a run in the first on hits by Alex Brea and Jake Batchelder, then settled down to snuff out the budding rally. Hits were plentiful for Lutticken's as it cruised to a comfortable 9-3 win.

Draeger's and Anderson's locked horns Tuesday, March 23 in a 5-3 struggle decided by Draeger's big three-run fifth inning. Draeger's rookie Pete Foster got his first Majors hit, a timely two-out RBI single. Wes Hagman's triple off Willow Field's Blue Monster to drive in two was the big blow for Draeger's, but Alex Neylan and Bo Sakowski also had key knocks.

Cashin's Russ DeSandre and Ben Cohen-Stead stepped up with key two-out hits, and Jake Batchelder cleared the bases with a triple but it wasn't enough as Brix overcame Cashin Co., 5-4, Wednesday. Reid McConnell hurled three quality innings to lead Brix.

Peyton Smith pitched superbly but Matt Newman had the only hit for Brix in a 6-2 loss to Draeger's Friday at Willow Field. Brix's hard luck continued Saturday, March 27, as strong pitching by Ryan Chilcoate and Michael Abramson carried Anderson's to its first victory, 6-4. Cameron Bell played stellar defense for Brix in the loss.

Cashin Co. got the big bats out earlier that Saturday, hammering out runs in bunches in a 12-7 win over Goetz Bros. Rooney Pitchford led the charge with sparkling fielding and two key RBI hits. Austin Hume pitched three shutout innings for Cashin. Goetz rallied too late for seven runs on hits by Hogan Bradford, Paul Kerr, Alex Stephenson, Chris Bell and fielding wizard Max Culhane.

Lutticken's was the only undefeated team left standing, finishing its week Saturday with a 9-5 win over Draeger's. Young Draeger's rookie Jack Beckwith pitched a perfect inning in his Majors debut.

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