Benicia Little League’s 9/10 all-star team remained unbeaten through three games at the District 53 Tournament in St. Helena.

Benicia’s youngest all-star team moved to within one victory of reaching the championship round after a tough 2-0 win over Napa American last Sunday. Jacob French struck out 10 batters in five innings and allowed only three hits to earn the win. T.J. Peters allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of relief to earn the save and complete the shutout.

Benicia got the game’s only runs in the third inning thanks to singles by French and Logan Lee and a two-run hit by Jake Matteson.

“It’s been real fun,” said Benicia 9/10 manager Jay Matteson. “Our confidence is sky high right now. We’re doing really well with pitching, defense and hitting. I’m hoping we keep it up.”

Benicia, which opened the tournament with a 16-1 win over Suisun One back on July 1, out-slugged Fairfield Atlantic for a 10-8 victory last Saturday. Benicia batted around in a six-run second inning highlighted by doubles from Matteson, Peters and Patrick Fernandez. French and nine-year-old Kelly Harms added key singles.

Fairfield Atlantic rallied to tie the game at 6-6 but Benicia responded with two more runs in the top of the third inning and never relinquished the lead. Nine-year-old Nathan Salas started the rally with a leadoff double, and French and Peters each had RBI singles to make it 8-6. Benicia eventually went up 10-6 in the fifth inning thanks to hits by French, Peters and Vaughn Goshert and a sacrifice fly by Matteson.

Fairfield Atlantic pulled to within 10-8 in the bottom of the fifth, but French closed the door in the sixth inning with two strikeouts and a ground out to earn the save.

“Their bats were really good but ours were really good, too,” coach Matteson said.

Benicia took on host St. Helena on Wednesday night in a battle between the only remaining unbeaten teams in the tournament, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship round.

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