Sports Wrap Sports Wrap (July 09, 2004)

Oddfellows overcome the odds

It took two days in a row of double-header wins for the Babe Ruth Independent Order of Oddfellows (IOOF) baseball team to emerge from the losers' bracket, defeat the top-ranked Larsen's Bracers (17-1) and win the Babe Ruth Championships for 13-15-year-olds.

IOOF, which entered the tournament with an 8-9-1 record, lost to the Bracers early on and fell into the loser's bracket.

With late-inning rallies, IOOF defeated Mountain View Lock and Felix Auto to advance to the championships for a rematch against the Bracers.

The Oddfellows beat the Bracers 6-3 in the opening game, then played errorless baseball to win the second and final game 5-4 and clinch the championship title.

"Who would have thought that we would go 5-1 in the playoffs and beat one of the best teams that had been in our league in years?" Manager Paul Cunningham said. "Our pitching was outstanding and our bats came to life again ... Every player on our team made a big play during the playoffs. It was a team effort, exactly as it should have been."

James Perez (.600), Sean Whitmore (.368) and Andrew Pardo (.315) led the IOOF offense. Whitmore (2.00 ERA) and Jacob DeWitt (3.50 ERA) led the defense from the pitching mound.

Lancer baseball coach retires

The legacy St. Francis baseball coach Chris Bradford is leaving behind is no small one: 634 wins, 10 WCAL titles, 21 CCS appearances, four CCS championships.

This year, when the Lancers were nationally ranked, Bradford was named the California Coaches Association baseball "Coach of the Year." But this year, Bradford retires. He coached Lancer baseball for 34 years, 31 of which were spent as head coach.

"St. Francis High School and our baseball program have truly been blessed by the presence of Chris Bradford," said St. Francis Athletic Director Michael Pilawski. "Chris has guided our baseball program with tremendous effort, outstanding teamwork and great sportsmanship. He has been a model coach -- teaching the game the right way."

Bradford will continue teaching English and French at St. Francis.

Lancer softball coach also steps down

After 26 years and 438 wins, Barry Ivers, a 1964 St. Francis graduate, has retired as the Lancer softball coach.

Under Ivers' leadership, the varsity softball team claimed six De Anza League titles and qualified for CCS 13 times since 1988.

Ivers will continue teaching and coaching freshman football.

CyberRays soccer tryouts

The Mountain View-Los Altos CyberRays soccer team, a first-season CYSA girls 13-and-under Class 1 team, is looking for experienced players interested in competing at the highest level.

Class 3 players are strongly encouraged, and scholarships are available if needed.

Contact Alberto Martin for tryout information at 996-0505 or e-mail soccer@albertos.com.

-- Colleen Corcoran

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