BRAEDEN CHAPMAN of Benicia slides safely into home past North catcher Vance Eschenburg during Wednesday’s opener of the District 53 Junior League Tournament.

Sammy Peterson threw a five-inning complete game as Benicia’s Junior League all-star team opened the best-of-three District 53 Tournament with a 14-3 victory over North on Wednesday at Fitzgerald Field.

Peterson got off to a slow start. Angel Yee and Matthew Zollinger stroked RBI singles in the first inning and Randall Mosley walked with the bases loaded as the North built a quick 3-0 lead. But Peterson retired the next eight hitters in a row and 10 of the next 11, allowing only three base runners and no runs over the final four innings.

“I found my groove,” Peterson said. “I tried to take a little off my fastball and got guys to swing over them a little bit.”

“I think he was nervous in the beginning and that’s natural, but he settled down and took over,” said Benicia manager Carl Rendell.

It didn’t take long for Benicia’s offense to take over. After walks to Braeden Chapman and Arian Chapman to open the bottom of the first, Shane Martin stroked a RBI single to get Benicia on the scoreboard. Richard Mealey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and three walks and a two-run single by Braeden Chapman capped a seven-run outburst and a 7-3 lead.

Benicia added two more runs in the second inning and Jayshaun Wise singled home Martin in the third to make it 10-3. Benicia added four insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth and won by the five-inning mercy rule.

“We were aggressive running the bases and that gave our hitters an advantage,” Rendell said.

Braeden Chapman went 1-for-1 with two runs and two RBIs while Arian Chapman and Zion Judkins each scored twice. Martin went 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.

“It feels like we put on a good show for the crowd,” Peterson said.

Benicia will try to wrap up the best-of-three series against the North on Thursday. A North victory would force a decisive Game 3 on Friday night.

“They’ve already come together as a team,” Rendell said of his all-stars. “They believe in each other and have each other’s backs. They’re not worried about their roles or any of that stuff. The camaraderie is already there.”

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