Bay Bridge Garage Giants claim the American LL title

June 14, 2006

The Bay Bridge Garage Giants are 2006 champions of the Petaluma American Little League Major Division, completing their season with a 13-3 record.

The Giants prevailed in a season marked by rain delays and by one of the most competitive divisions in recent years.

The Giants built their success on the strength of their pitching staff, which tossed three shutouts and allowed just 33 runs in 16 games. Branden Mooney and Alexander Eliades consistently won key games as starting pitchers, with key performances also turned in by Kevin and Alyssa Byrne. Trevor Shine, the team's lone 11-year old pitcher, was not scored upon down the pennant stretch. Austin Wilson was the team's primary closer, helping the Giants to 7-0 run in the middle of the season.

The Giants outscored all other teams in the league behind the consistent one-two hitting combination of Byrne and Wilson, Mooney's five home runs, and key hitting all through the lineup by on-base percentage leaders Colton Campbell, Shine and Eliades. Paul Proctor added two home runs and Wilson had one, in addition to leading the team in doubles. Josh Zaret contributed clutch hits all season to complement his strong defensive play at catcher, third and first.

Overall, the Giants committed very few errors, relying on strong infield play by first baseman Kevin Brill, and defense by outfielders Adam Thomason and RC Tidwell.

The team's first-place effort capped a turnaround from last season when the team finished at the bottom of the division.

Manager Edward Mooney said, "Last year we drafted practically a whole new team into Majors with a plan to be competitive this year. Our players' hard work from last year and this season really paid off -- both on the mound and at the plate. Our league was very competitive, and it took a total team effort every game to become champions."

Mooney was assisted by coaches Scott Thomason and Terry Shine and team mom Jeri Tidwell.