LITTLE LEAGUE: First comes the TOC, and then it’s All-Star time

There is one piece of business to attend to before local Little League teams put their all-star teams on the diamond. Members of league championship teams will play one more tournament together, competing in the District 35 Tournament of Champions before all-star competition begins. That tournament, which brings together champions from each league in District 35, begins Monday.

In the first round, the Petaluma Valley champion hosts El Molino at Murphy Field and the Petaluma National and Petaluma American League champions go head-to-head at the American League’s Lucchesi Park home. Both games start at 5:30 p.m.

The championship game of the single-elimination tournament will be played June 23 under the lights at Lucchesi Park, with first pitch at 7:30 p.m.

All-Star tournaments begin June 30.

Tens

The District 35 8-10-year-old tournament will be played primarily at the Rincon Valley Little League’s impressive complex in Santa Rosa, although a few preliminary games will be played at Murphy Field and a few others in Ukiah. The opening game on June 30 will pit the Petaluma Nationals against Healdsburg in a 5:30 p.m. game at Rincon Valley. Petaluma American starts at 5:30 p.m. on July 1 against Mark West at Murphy Field. Petaluma Valley draws a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the American vs. Mark West game at Murphy Field on July 2 in a 2 p.m. game.

The double-elimination tournament concludes with the championship game on July 9 at 11 a.m., or the following day at 11 a.m. depending on the outcome of the first game. Both games will be played at Rincon Valley.

Intermediate

The District 35 Intermediate All-Star Tournament will also be played at Rincon Valley starting Friday. The Intermediate League is for players age 11-13. It uses 70-foot bases and a 50-foot pitching distance. A combined Petaluma team begins play Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Mark West.

The championship will be June 22, with a second game, if necessary, on June 23.

Elevens

Petaluma American hosts the tournament for 9- to 11-year-olds at Lucchesi Park starting July 1. Petaluma Valley plays the first night against Healdsburg. Petaluma National plays Rincon Valley at 11 a.m. on July 2, while Petaluma American awaits the winner of the Valley vs. Healdsburg game at 2 p.m. on July 2.

The championship game will be July 9 at 11 a.m., with a second game, if necessary, on July 10.

Majors

The trail to Williamsport and the Little League World Series for 10- to 12-year-olds begins at the home of the only Petaluma team ever to make the trek when the District 35 Tournament opens at the Petaluma Nationals’ Carter Field on July 2.

Both the host Nationals and Petaluma Valley receive first-round byes. Petaluma American plays on the first day at 2 p.m. against Rincon Valley. Petaluma National awaits the winner of that game at 2 p.m. on July 3. Petaluma Valley will take on the winner of the Santa Rosa American vs. Sebastopol game at 11 a.m. on July 3.

The championship game will be played July 10 at 11 a.m. at Carter Field, with a second game, if necessary, on July 11.

Senior League

Petaluma will have one team in a three-team Senior League Tournament for 13- to 16-year-olds being played at Rincon Valley. Petaluma opens the tournament June 25 against Healdsburg with the winner advancing to play a combined Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa American League team at 11 a.m. June 26.

The tournament runs through June 29.