Leghorn Jr. Legion team headed for state tourney

The Petaluma Leghorns Junior American Legion baseball team for 17-unders plays on.

After finishing third in the Area Tournament in Chico, the Leghorns have been given an at-large berth in the State Junior Tournament opening today and running through the weekend at the Veterans Home in Yountville.

Petaluma was to open the tournament at 4 p.m. today against the North Humboldt Giants. Other teams in the six-team tournament are Auburn, Santa Monica, Chico and San Juan Capistrano. If the Leghorns win today, they play at 4 p.m. Friday; a loss and they play at 1 p.m.

The Leghorns won the District Tournament in a clean sweep over Napa, Davis, Ukiah and then Davis again in the championship game to advance to the Area Tournament in Chico.

In the Area Tournament, the Leghorns lost to Chico Blue, then beat Humboldt and Chico Red before losing to Auburn.

To be playing in the State Tournament marks a remarkable turnaround for the Leghorns, who started the season 2-11. They go into state with a 15-15 mark, having won 13 of their last 17 games.

“We’ve playing better defense and hitting throughout the lineup,” said Leghorn coach Joe Lampe. ”It was a team effort when we were not playing well, and it is a team effort now.”

Petaluma carried a large roster of players this summer. There are 18 players on the roster for the state tournament. However, the roster was constantly evolving as players missed games for vacations and other commitments.

One thing remained constant - if you were available, you played.

“We made sure that everyone got into the game,” Lampe said. “In most games, everyone played two or three innings.”

Players come from all three area high schools and most are headed into their sophomore year in high school, making the Leghorns younger than most of the teams they played.

Travis Morgan was the mainstay of a pretty good mound staff that also included Joe Lampe (the coach’s son), Broc Burleson, Nick Kamages, Nick Siembieda and Eric Fairbanks.

The pitchers, especially in the early going, were hampered by an inconsistent defense, partially caused by a rotation of players depending on who was available.

“We mixed and matched a lot,” says coach Lampe, “but we’re playing much better defense now.”

Among the team’s leading hitters have been Burleson, player Lampe, Siembieda, Nate Busse, Fairbanks and Kamages. But they haven’t been the only contributors.

“Our hitting has been spread up and down the lineup,” said coach Lampe. “When we started hitting, it seems like everyone started hitting.”

Helping Lampe coach the team are RJ Busse, Mike Jacobs, Dave Siembieda and Jim Gallagher.

Members of the team going to the state tournament are: Joe Lampe, Nick Siembieda, Eric Fairbanks, Travis Morgan, Jack Gallagher, Broc Burleson, Connor Klemenok, Tony Sabella, Jack Romano, Nate Busse, Clay Smedshammer, Sam Jacobs, Ryan Ramos, Cameron Downing, Joey Loveless, Nick Kamages, Noah Bailey and Ibai Guadron.