Athletic Edge U-13 team hits its way to New York

Petaluma’s Athletic Edge under 13 travel baseball team has batted and pitched its way to a trip to New York state.

By winning a qualifying tournament in Woodland, the Petaluma team earned the right to compete in the National Youth Baseball Championships to be played July 23-29 at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, New York, located about an hour’s drive from New York City.

Sponsored by Steel Sports, the tournament is a true national championship affair with games televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network and streamed online by MLB.com. More than a baseball tournament, the championships include a large opening ceremonies and skills competition. Past Major League Baseball personalities featured at the event have been Tommy Lasorda, Frank Thomas, Tony LaRussa, Dusty Baker, Bobby Valentine and Jerry Manuel.

To earn the invitation to the national tournament, the Petaluma team slugged its way to the title in the qualifying tournament.

Athletic Edge won both pool games on the first day of the tournament, prevailing, 10-0, and 11-5 to earn th No. 2 seed in the 11-team pool play.

Petaluma slammed its way to a win in its semifinal game, defeating the Reno Shockers, 9-2.

Nick Tobin tossed a gem on the mound, going six innings, allowing just five hits, while striking out four on 68 pitches. Both runs off him were unearned.

Sam Gomez threw the final inning to wrap up the win.

Dylan Snider, Gomez and Tobin each had two hits.

The championship game wasn’t even close with Athletic Edge romping to a 13-3 win over the No. 1 seeded Reno Mustangs.

Carl Schmidt pitched three innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits, while striking out four and walking just one. Jacob Haugen pitched two innings and Ben Diaz one as the game was called after six innings by the 10-run rule.

Athletic Edge jumped out to a big early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning and four more in the second.

After consecutive walks to Schmidt and Gomez in the first inning, Nick Tobin delivered a two-run single. Diaz followed with a triple and Haugen a double. Zach Fiene closed out the scoring with an RBI single.

The Petaluma assault continued in the second inning. With two outs, Haugen delivered another double after three Mustang walks, scoring all three runs. Fiene singled again to score Haugen, increasing the Athletic Edge lead to 9-0.

Four more runs scored for the Edge in the sixth inning. Tobin started the rally with a lead-off single. Diaz tripled him home. Logan Bailey singled to right field, driving home Diaz. After a walk to second baseman Kyle Krupp and an infield single by Ben Wilson, Dylan Snider drove home two final runs with a hit to right.

Tobin was chosen the tournament Most Valuable Player. He earned two pitching wins, working eight innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. He allowed just two unearned runs. He was also 8-for-12 at the plate with eight RBIs in four games.

Members of the New York-bound team are Raime Dayton, Logan Bailey, Carl Schmidt, Dylan Snider, Zach Fiene, Ben Wilson, Jacob Haugen, Jacob Trujillo, Ben Diaz, Sam Gomez, Kyle Krupp and Nick Tobin.