Petaluma Intermediate All Stars face a final game

Host Rincon Valley rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to upend Petaluma, 9-8, and force a one-game playoff in the Little League All Star Intermediate age bracket.|

Host Rincon Valley rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to upend Petaluma, 9-8, and force a one-game playoff in the Little League All Star Intermediate age bracket at Santa Rosa on Tuesday evening.

Petaluma, with players from all three Little League programs in the city, held a seemingly safe 8-4 advantage going into the final at bat for Rincon. Five hits, including a home run, against closer Exemi Martinez turned the game around. The Wednesday single-elimination finale was played too late for press time.

Petaluma played well enough to win the tournament as the 50/70 All-Stars fielded very well and got good pitching from starter Jake Meininger and reliever Justin Sullivan, who shut the door on a Rincon rally in the fifth inning. Overall, Petaluma used five pitchers to protect the pitch count if another game were to be played. Now it will.

Meininger struck out three in three innings of work and allowed only two runs. One run scored from second base when a short wild pitch could not be located by the Petaluma catcher.

Sullivan was especially sharp as he retired five of the six batters he faced before giving way to Martinez in the final frame. Two misplays in the final inning didn’t do Martinez any favors, but Rincon Valley hitters made solid contact throughout the last frame.

Stocky Michael McVey was the chief tormentor for Petaluma as he kept Rincon Valley in the game by pitching the first six frames on 96 pitches. McVey came back to single solidly in the final inning to tie the contest. A single past a drawn-in infield sealed the verdict for Rincon Valley.

The two closely matched teams have now split a couple of games, and the Wednesday contest was to determine which club earns the tournament title and advances to the next round hosted by District 4.

The intermediate style of play allows runners to lead off the bases, and Petaluma capitalized in the early going by pilfering nine bases. Only one balk was called between the two teams, and the defense turned in by Petaluma was outstanding. Extended base distances allow for growing players to make longer throws to retire hitters on ground balls, and it forces longer relays in the outfield.

Petaluma executed a run-down play by catching a Rincon runner napping in the second inning.

Two terrific running catches by Petaluma center fielder Matteo Milani shut down possible Rincon rallies and allowed the visitors to take the lead into the final at bat of the game as the sun began to disappear on the western horizon.

Sullivan led the way at the plate for Petaluma with two hits, while Meininger kicked in with an RBI double to the base of the left field fence in the top of the fourth inning.

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