Pitching lifts American League champs to win TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Zimmerman throws complete game, limiting Healdsburg to just one hit

Petaluma American League champion Petaluma Valley Athletic Club continued to get it done on the road in the Tournament of Champions by defeating Healdsburg, 3-0, on Tuesday evening in Sebastopol. The Americans scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the first inning and made them hold up in the quickly played contest.

There are only four teams standing in the annual District 35 TOC and the surprising Americans are one of them. Petaluma disposed of Fort Bragg, 3-1, on Monday, and is still in the hunt for the tournament title.

Petaluma rocked Healdsburg starter A.J. Frost for four hits in the first inning for the margin of victory. Every ball was well hit into left field as the Healdsburg defenders reacted slowly because that side of the diamond was a tough sun field.

Brady Coons, Ryan McQuinn and Daniel Egide all laced run-scoring singles for the Americans before Healdsburg brought in Brendon Wisnet to put out the fire. Wisnet did a terrific job the rest of the way for the Athletics, holding Petaluma to only two more hits in the final innings, but he was overmatched in this one.

Petaluma American pitcher Nathan Zimmerman was masterful in throwing a complete game to pick up the victory. Zimmerman was very economical with his pitches and was listed with only 64 pitches by the end of the fifth inning. He limited the Athletics to only one hit, but Healdsburg threatened to ruin his gem in the final inning.

Two consecutive walks made the frame difficult, and the Petaluma fans began to squirm as the tying run came to the plate in the form of Hunter Irons. After a long battle, Zimmerman struck out Irons with a fastball. It was the 12th punch out of the game for Zimmerman, who also made a terrific play on a bunt attempt to get the first out.

The excitement was not over, however. Healdsburg alertly moved its lead runner ahead to third base when the Americans gathered at the mound without calling time out.

With two outs Healdsburg took a big chance with the game on the line by sending base runner A.J Frost to second and he drew a throw from American catcher Angelo Smith who could have ended the game with a perfect throw. The lead runner took off for the place and the gritty Smith held his ground and tagged out Henri Gomez on a collision play at the plate on the return throw. It was a Buster Posey moment for the smaller Smith, but the proof was in his catcher’s glove at the end of the game.

PVAC was scheduled to head back on the road Wednesday in Sebastopol to play in the semifinals, one step away from the TOC championship game at the Rincon Valley Little League complex in Santa Rosa on Thursday. Results of the Wednesday game were not available at press time.

Zimmerman and Dominic Daley each had two hits for the winning Americans. Egide reached base three times, including a sharp single in the first inning to knock in a run.

Victor Johnson had the only hit for Healdsburg, a single in the third inning.