10 YEAR OLDS: Petaluma Americans battle undefeated into title game

After two hard-fought victories, the Petaluma American 10-year-old Little League All-Star team stands on the brink of the Section 1 Tournament championship.|

After two hard-fought victories, the Petaluma American 10-year-old Little League All-Star team stands on the brink of the Section 1 Tournament championship.

The Americans met Mill Valley, which eliminated Woodland American 8-3 on Tuesday night, on Wednesday on the Davis Little League diamond for the Section crown. Results of that game were not available at press time.

Since Petaluma was undefeated going into that game, Mill Valley would have to beat Petaluma in the double-elimination tournament.

Petaluma 7, Mill Valley 3

Petaluma opened Section play with a 7-3 win over Mill Valley last Sunday behind the pitching of Jack Hu and Tegan Camilleri.

Mill Valley came out swinging in that game, collecting three singles in the top of the first off Petaluma starter Hu. However, Hu settled down and retired the side in the next two innings, recording two strikeouts and needing only 21 pitches in the two innings.

Petaluma American answered in the bottom of the first. Lead-off hitter and team catalyst shortstop Jordan Giacomini walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jeffrey Rice also walked with two outs and stole second. That set up Ethan Arellano, who singled to drive in both runners, giving Petaluma a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Camilleri replaced Hu on the mound with a runner at first and one out. The first batter he saw hit a two-run homer, putting Mill Valley up, 3-2. Camilleri then walked the next batter, but found his sea legs and struck out the next two.

The fourth and fifth innings have been big-scoring innings for the Petaluma American throughout the tournament season, and it was no different in Section play.

In the fourth, Wyatt Abramson led off with a single, then was forced at second on a ground ball to short by Rice. Arellano doubled to score Rice. JT Summers and Austin Steeves walked, bring up Camilleri, who singled in a run. With two outs, Giacomini doubled to score two giving Petaluma a 7-3 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Camilleri recorded two quick outs and was replaced by Abramson as the Petaluma coaches protected him to pitch in a future game.

Abramson got ahead of his first batter 0-2, but a curve ball hit the batter. A walk followed, providing a glimmer of hope for Mill Valley. However, a wild pitched bounced right back to Petaluma catcher Shaun Furrer, who calmly and accurately tossed a strike to Summers at third base to nail the runner and end the game.

Arellano led the Petalumans at the plate with two hits, including a double, three RBIs and a steal of home.

Petaluma 8, Woodland 6

Petaluma American held off a strong Woodland American team, 8-6, in the semifinals to reach the tournament championship game undefeated.

Petaluma fell behind 1-0 in the second inning and then 3-0 in the third against Woodland’s hard-throwing Austin Stapleton.

In an at bat that changed the tenor of the game, Petaluma No. 9 hitter Jack Larson led off the third inning with a double that one-hopped the right-field fence. With one out, Hu turned on a 1-2 heater for his first career home run. Kalen Clemmens then hit a home run off the scoreboard in right field to tie the game at 3-3.

Clemmens relieved starting pitcher Arellano with two outs in the third and struck out the one batter he faced.

In the fourth, Clemmens quickly got two outs, but walked a batter, bringing Stapleton to the plate. Clemmens jumped ahead 0-2, but Stapleton connected on a curve for a home run giving Woodland a 5-3 lead.

Clemmens set down Woodland in the top of the fifth and the inning again proved fruitful for Petaluma.

Hu led off the frame with a walk. Abramson lifted a deep fly to right center that split the outfielders for a double, with Hu going to third. Clemmens drove in a run with a ground out to second and Arellano doubled in the game-tying tally.

Rice ripped a triple down the right-field line to score Arellano and give Petaluma a 6-5 lead that grew when Summers singled home Rice.

Leading, 8-5, Clemmens pitched around a lead-off walk in the top of the sixth, getting a soft ground ball to Arellano at first, a hard line drive that was caught on a great play by Camilleri in left field and another ground ball to Arellano, leaving the dangerous Stapleton in the on-deck circle. Stapleton accounted for three of the four Woodland hits and scored two runs.

Clemmens had two hits for Petaluma, including his home run, and drove in two runs. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.

For the tournament season that includes an undefeated run to the District 35 championship prior to Section play, Petaluma American has trailed in sixth of the seven games, but has overcome those deficits by scoring 32 runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Five Petaluma American batters have hit eight home runs. Clemmens has three, Abramson two and Arellano, Summers and Hu one each.

Petaluma pitchers have struck out 42 batters and walked just 14 in 39 innings, helping the Americans to a 60-27 run differential.

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