National 10-11-year-olds stay alive

<p>The Petaluma National 10-11-year-old All-Star team extended its season with a 8-3 victory over Rincon Valley in a game played at the Petaluma American diamond Thursday night. The once-beaten Nationals will be back in action tonight at the American's Lucchesi Park diamond facing Sebastopol in another do-or-die game at 5:30 p.m. </p><p>For the first time in the District 35 Tournament, the National boys were in the home dugout. They bent, but did not break in the top of the first, giving up one run, but stranding two Rincon Valley runners.</p><p>After being retired in order in the bottom of the first that included two deep fly balls to center, the Nationals returned the favor in the top of the second. </p><p>The Nationals ook what Rincon gave them in the bottom of the second, tying the game at 1-1 without recording a hit. Cole Powers and Reno Nalducci led off the inning with walks and Powers scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Ritchie Norman. </p><p>The top of the third proved interesting as Rincon Valley loaded the bases with no outs on two successive errors and a single. Sam Renstrom made a nice catch in right field and quickly threw to the plate, keeping the tying run at third. The next batter hit a soft line drive to Whitaker Ellis at shortstop which he caught and tagged the runner who had wandered off of second base, ending the threat. </p><p>Petaluma National piled on three more runs in the third inning that started with a lead-off single up the middle by Trey Davis. He and Ellis scored on a two-out double by Powers that landed just inside the right field line. Powers came around to score on a ball put in play by Conner Pedersen.</p><p>Max Belove led off the next inning to set the table for a four-run fourth in which Garrett Freitas, Willy Bertolucci, Renstrom and Powers all touched the plate. </p><p>From there, the Nationals held on thanks to the pitching work of Powers, Reno Nalducci, Ellis and Ritchie Norman. The pitchers combined to scatter six hits and two walks over the six-inning game. </p><p>Sam Jacobs, Zack Clark, and Nick Siembieda also contributed for the victorious Nationals.</p>