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Subscribe to our NewsletterAthletics host first annual baseball tournament
Joining the hosting North Coast Athletics were the Barrys Extreme Sluggers from Willits and the P-Town out of Petaluma. The teams battled it out on the field for five games Saturday and Sunday with the Athletics taking home the championship trophy after beating the Sluggers 6-0 in the final game.
The Athletics took the mound against the Sluggers in game one on Saturday. It was a rough start in the tournament for the unfortunate Willits team as the Athletics handed them their heads in the 20-0 North Coast win.
The game started out with the Sluggers from Willits playing a tough three innings against the Athletics, with seasoned veteran Steven Baumeister on the mound. The fourth and fifth innings would prove to be the worst for the Sluggers, as the As scored six runs in the fourth inning, 11 runs in the fifth inning. The Willits pitchers walked 13 and hit three batters.
Anthony Ruano pitched two strong innings. The big play was when Al (Willie Mays) Huerta ran down a gap hit, threw to Baumeister who threw to Nick Rawlings at the plate in the first inning, helping to preserve the shutout. With a few key injuries to Willits players, they were unable to gain any momentum.
Baumeister led the As batting, going 3x3, 2B, BB, HBP and scoring three runs. Tony Melia followed, going 2x2, 2 BB and one run. Derek Shea was 1x2, 1 sacrifice, 1BB and a run.
For Willits, Cole Alavezos led the offense, going 2x4 with a double, while Jason Whitby was 1x2.
The Extreme Sluggers rebounded in game two, beating the P-Town Players, 13-10. P-Town had beat the Athletics in the Marin tournament earlier this year, 9-8.
Willits Jason Whitby pitched seven innings, throwing 7Ks, 3BB, 7R, 4ER. Johnathan Carr relieved Whitby for the last two innings, holding P-Town at bay and getting the win.
In game three the Athletics hit the field for the second time that day, beating the P-Town 7-2. Tony Melia, from Mendocino pitched a complete game only allowing seven hits. Melia helped his own cause, leading the As hitting with 3x4, 2HR, 2B, 3RBI and scoring three runs.
Richard Tamborini from Fort Bragg made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch at first base to help complete the victory.
On Sunday, the Mendocino High School baseball diamond rang with the crack of the bat once again as the three teams vied for a championship spot.
Barrys Extreme Sluggers took on the P-Town Players in game four. Willits Arron Campbell hustled to score the winning run on a pass ball toppling P-Town by only one, 7-6. Petaluma never gave up, coming back to tie the game after being down, 6-2.
The players were a class-act baseball team, said Coach Mike James. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
The win sent the Sluggers into the championship game against the undefeated Athletics that afternoon. In game five the As beat the Willits team again, this time 6-0. Everett James led from the mound, pitching a complete game and allowing only one hit while striking out seven.
With catchers, Steven Young and Rawlings and a very tight defense, the As would combine for a one-hit shutout against a tough rebounding Willits team.
With Willits threatening to score in the sixth inning, Tamborini laid out at first base, missing an Alavezos hit. Matt Freitas came from second base and threw a perfect feed to pitcher James who was covering first base to get the out.
Willits tried to put the ball in play, but with center fielder, Alex Lemmon tracking down two gap hits, and a stingy Athletics defense, the Sluggers couldnt gain the momentum.
Tournament MVP, Melia, led the hitting, going 2x2 with 2B, BB, HP, 2RBI and a run. Elliot Hee went 2x2, RBI and a run, Baumeister was 1x2 with 2BB and a run. Huerta, Lemmon, Cody Raudio and Freitas all scored runs.
All-tournament players for the North Coast Athletics were James, Tamborini and Baumiester.
For Willits they were Matt Shlegel, Alavezos, Dustin Caldwell and Campbell. For the P-Town the selected players were Wiley Buck, Taylor Pasion and Taylor Young.
