Valley’s Athletic Edge rules City

Aiden Lombardi pitches Athletic Edge to City Little League championship.|

Athletic Edge supported a workmanlike pitching performance by Aiden Lombardi with 14 hits in only four innings to oust Elks Lodge No. 901, 12-2, to capture the Major Little League City championship at Murphy Field on Saturday.

Lombardi didn’t need that much support as he handcuffed the Elks on four hits and didn’t allow an earned run. Three late misplays in the infield turned into a couple of runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Elks could not avoid the loss in a game shortened by the 10-run rule.

Lombardi faced a threat in the opening inning when a single and walk put two possible runs on the bases. He induced George Marzo to pop out and struck out his second batter of the frame to escape any damage. Five Elks were retired by way of strikeouts in the game.

Athletic Edge, the No. 1 seed from the Petaluma Valley League, scored in every inning to take complete command of the contest. The young Valley squad jumped on Elks starter Casey Pectol for three early runs in the first two frames, but a monster explosion was to follow.

As the game advanced, the Athletic Edge batters adjusted their bat speed and made better contact in the second rotation of the lineup.

Jaden Julien had a terrific day at the plate for the newly crowned city champs as he went 4-for-4, with an eye-opening solo blast in his first at bat in the first frame. It was the 24th circuit clout for Julien on the season.

Athletic Edge put things away with a seven-run rally in the top of the third inning. Sebastian Arenas got the big blow with a three-run homer over the left-field fence, and the hits kept on coming from the best team in the Valley League this season.

Athletic Edge features a boatload of 10-year-old players who proved that they could play with the big boys on the championship stage, including Jaden Murphy, who had a couple of hits with a double and Clint Rea, who chipped in with a sacrifice fly in the big frame.

In addition, most of the Valley’s impressive work came on well-executed defensive plays until the final inning.

Arenas, Murphy and Antonio Bernadini each had two hits to help their club improve to 28-2 for the season.

Not to be forgotten at the end of the proceedings was the terrific comeback season by the Elks baseball team from the Petaluma National Little League. The Elks struggled in many close games to finish as the seventh seed, but captured game after clutch game to earn their way to the city finals.

Marzo had a single and a run in the brief rally against Lombardi in the contest played in front of an appreciative crowd at Murphy.

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