Sonoma 11s, 10s win D-53 titles

Both teams move on to sectional tournaments|

In the final, winner take all game vs Fairfield Atlantic, the Sonoma 11s left nothing to chance and allowed no one to wonder who the District 53 champions were.

They dominated all around in an 18-0 blowout victory. Andrew Bonfigli’s two-run HR in the first was more than pitcher Max Harrison needed, as he threw a three-hit complete game shutout, striking out 10.

For the seven-game tournament, Everet Johnson led the team with 16 hits, Nicolas Sebastiani had 13, Ben Sebastiani and Andrew Bonfigli each had 9. Bonfigli banged three home runs, Max Harrison and Mikey Dewitt each had two. On the mound, Max Harrison did not allow an earned run over 13-2/3-innings. The Sonoma 11s move on to the double elimination Sectional Tournament hosted by Rincon Valley Little League starting with their first game at 2 p.m. Friday, July 14.

The Sonoma 10s were undefeated at 4-0 and sitting pretty in the Championship game, with Napa National needing to be beat Sonoma twice.

Sonoma wouldn’t need to use their safety net as they came out hot, scoring five runs in the first inning, and never looked back. Led by two hits apiece from Grant Kiser and Vinny Girish, and four strong innings from Niko Olivier, the Sonoma 11s cruised to an 11-1 victory to finish at a perfect 5-0 and bringing home the District 53 Championship.

The Sonoma 10s move on to the double elimination Sectional Tournament hosted by Concord Little League starting with their first game at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 15.

After winning their first three games before dropping down to the losers bracket, the Sonoma 12 year olds had to face Napa National, the team that beat them in the District 53 Championship game last year.

The Sonoma 12s jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first on a single from Jaden Vides, a sacrifice fly from Brett Armitage, a single from Gianni Natuzzi, a double from Finn Parker and a HR from Landen Waldrop.

Natuzzi would add an RBI double in the second and Vides tacked on a HR in the fourth and behind a masterful seven-strikeout performance from Jacob Schepp that had the Napa hitters off balance all game, the Sonoma 12s were cruising along with a 6-2 lead in the fifth inning when Napa scrapped together a few hits coupled with a few Sonoma mishaps and sent the game into extra innings.

The teams traded zeros until Napa completed the heartbreaking comeback by scoring on a close play at the plate in the bottom of the eighth to eliminate Sonoma with a 7-6 win.

Napa would go on to win the District Championship. Sonoma ended up 3-2 overall and in the five games. Brett Armitage, Enzo Masciorini, Gianni Natuzzi and Jaden Vides each tied for the team lead with seven hits. Sonoma clubbed 11 HRs including three from Masciorini, two each from Vides, Carson Smith and Landen Waldrop and one each from Natuzzi and Erik Cab.

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