Petaluma teen baseball players in spotlight

A team of young players from Petaluma got a look at baseball on a different level, and college scouts from around the state got a look at baseball Petaluma style in the Perfect Game Fall Championship for 17 and unders played in Arizona.

The tournament, played at a first-class training facility shared by the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, attracted teams from four different states. Most of the teams were all-star-like squads with players from all over their leagues. All but two of Petaluma’s players came from either Petaluma or Casa Grande high schools.

The Petaluma team immediately grabbed scouts’ attention when Gavin Ochoa, Mark Wolbert and Mario Taormina shut down a San Diego All-Star team, 1-0, in its first game.

All three, along with Garett Lewis, were the objects of much attention from scouts.

The Petaluma team proceeded to go undefeated through the qualifying round, defeating Los Angeles, 3-2, and Colorado, 8-1.

In the first round of knock-out play, Petaluma faced the San Diego team again, and this time a bad inning finished its trip with a 5-2 loss. San Diego went on to reach the tournament finals and finish in second place.

While the playing experience was great, as was a private tour of the facilities arranged by Athletic Edge owner and team coach Jeff Inglin, a former Chicago White Sox player, what was really important for the Petalumans was to see and be seen.

“There were college scouts all over the place. The exposure these kids got was really unreal,” said Petaluma High varsity coach Jim Selvitella, who assisted Inglin in coaching the team.

“The experience the players got will carry over to high school and the exposure they received with carry over to college,” Inglin said.

When Petaluma knocked off San Diego in its first game, the attention quickly followed.

“As soon as the game was over, one college coach asked me, ‘Where are you guys from and what time are you playing tomorrow?’?” Inglin said.

Several college scouts, including six from Pac-12 schools, requested biographies on Petaluma players.

“Scouts don’t get to see our kids,” noted Inglin. “By going to tournaments like this, they find out our kids can compete with any team in the country.”

Equally important, the players know they can compete with the big boys.

“Getting the opportunity to play against these caliber teams, and learning they can compete is something that will carry over to their high school teams,” said Inglin.

“It is something that will benefit me at Petaluma and Chad (Fillinger) at Casa,” Selvitella agreed.

The Petaluma High coach noted that players don’t just walk into such high level tournaments.

“Jeff’s connections made this happen,” he said. “Athletic Edge clinics, camps and tournaments for the younger kids get the older players ready to compete at these forums.”

Members of the Petaluma team were Lewis, Nicco Bertolucci, Ochoa, Mario Zarco, Lucas Schaefer, Nick Orello, Wolbert, Jojo Soltanizadeh, Rocco Palmini, Jake Lannert, Alex Leopard, Nick Taormina, Mario Taormina and Ty Tomei.