First All-City Little League tourney moves into final round

June 21, 2006

Petaluma's first-ever All-City Little League Tournament moves into its final round this week, with the top eight teams from pool play matching in a single-elimination tournament.

Play was to begin Tuesday evening with games at Carter and Murphy fields.

Tonight, the action will continue with games at Lucchesi Park and Carter Field. All games start at 5:30 p.m.

First-round winners will play Thursday at Lucchesi and Friday at Murphy.

The championship matches are set for Sunday, with a third-place game at 10 a.m., followed by the championship match at 1 p.m.

Matchups were to be determined by final pool-play standings. The standings depend on a final round of games played last Sunday. Those results were not available at press time.

Going into last Sunday's final games, Valley League champion Whitman Insurance and American League surprise team the Indians were undefeated with 3-0 records in Pool A. The Reds from the American League were still hopeful with a 2-1 record.

Another American League surprise team, the Angels, were the only undefeated 3-0 team in Pool B going into the final round of games, while National League champion the Elks and Lucky 7, also from the National League were hopeful with 2-1 records.

Two teams, the American League champion Giants and EMG, a National League surprise team, each won their first three games and were looking good in Pool C going into the final games. First Security from the National League was 2-1.

Meanwhile, local teams are also preparing for official Little League All-Star Tournaments, which could be a springboard to the Little League World Series for Major League teams.

The South Area Tournament for 9-10-year-olds will be hosted by the Petaluma American at Lucchesi Park beginning Friday, June 30. Participating in that tournament, along with the host American League, will be Petaluma National, Petaluma Valley, Rancho Cotati, Sebastopol and Westside from Santa Rosa.

The American League will also host the 10-11-year-old South Area Tournament beginning on Saturday, July 1. Participating in that tournament, along with the host team, will be Mark West Youth Club, Petaluma National, Petaluma Valley, Rancho Cotati, Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa American, Sebastopol and Westside.

Petaluma Valley will host the South Area Major League Tournament beginning on Monday, July 3. Competing, along with the host, will be El Molino, Petaluma American, Petaluma National, Rancho Cotati and Sebastopol.

Rancho Cotati will host the South Area Junior League Tournament for 13 and 14-year-olds beginning Wednesday, June 28.

Participating, along with the host Rancho Cotati team, will be Petaluma American, Petaluma National, Petaluma Valley, Rancho Rincon Valley, Santa Rosa American and Westside.