City tourney a silver lining in a cloudy season

June 28, 2006

Petaluma's first City Championship Tournament was a classic example of finding (or more appropriately, making) a silver lining in a cloudy sky. After the spring rains spoiled the first two weeks of the Little League season, there was no time for the traditional Tournament of Champions between the various league champions in District 35.

In its stead, the three Petaluma leagues invented their own City Championship Tournament involving every Major League team in town. For those who don't follow Little League, the Majors are the Williamsport kids, the 11-12-year olds, with a few exceptional 10-year-olds tossed into the mix.

Every team started with a chance to win. After each team had played four games, the top eight teams to emerge from pool play went into a single-elimination tournament. The format is important only because it worked.

Every team in town had a chance to play at least four games, often facing teams from other leagues they never get a chance to play, and often playing on strange diamonds. It was exciting.

There were a few surprises along the way. EMG, last in the National League during the regular season, played its way into the final round of eight. In the end, however, the best teams prevailed. The final finish had American League champion Bay Bridge Garage Giants first, Valley League champion Whitman Insurance second and National League champion Elks third.

More important than the competition was the cooperation. The three leagues joined forces to provide a fitting finish to the regular Little League season.

And, it was fun.

Long-time Little League umpire Donny Armstrong tells of being behind the plate for one of the inter-league games when the batter took a called strike and looked back at the catcher.

"Tell him (the pitcher) to throw that pitch again," he pleaded.

The catcher flashed the sign.

"Did you call the same pitch?" asked the curious Armstrong.

"Yeah," said the catcher. "He's my best friend."

There was a pause, then a lowly mumbled, "But I know he can't hit a curve ball."

It was that kind of tournament.

"This tournament was an overwhelming success because the community worked together for the benefit of all our kids. It's a great model for even better things to come," said Petaluma National Little League President Troy Sanderson.

Jonny's star is dimming

Time is running out to get Petaluma's Jonny Gomes chosen to the Major League Baseball All-Star game to be played Tuesday, July 11 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Voting ends Thursday.

As of late last week, Jonny was 15th in balloting for American League outfielders. The top three vote-getters and the likely outfield starters are Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels, Manny Ramierez of the Red Sox and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners, although the Yankees' Johnny Damon could still catch Suzuki.

It is probably too late to get Gomes into the starting lineup, but a good vote count could influence American League manager Ozzie Guillen to choose the Petaluman as an alternate.

There is also a chance that the fans could vote Gomes onto the team as the final player. They will choose in four days of voting from among five candidates after the starters and alternates have been announced.

Log into MLB.com and Vote! Vote! Vote!.

(Contact John Jackson at acsports@arguscourier.com)