BENICIA’S JUNIOR League all-stars swept North to win the District 53 championship and head to Terra Linda on Sunday for the Section 1 Tournament.

Benicia’s Junior League all-stars made quick work of North in the District 53 Tournament at Fitzgerald Field, winning 11-1 in five innings Thursday to complete a two-game sweep for the championship.

Benicia outscored North 25-4 overall and won both games in five innings. Benicia now advances to the Section 1 Tournament at Vallecito Field in Terra Linda, which begins Sunday against the District 64 champion.

“It feels great,” said Benicia’s Arian Chapman, who went 3-for-3 with two runs in Thursday’s clincher. “Once our bats started going in the first game, it all just carried over to this game.”

“We’re putting guys in position to execute and we’ve been really good about controlling our at-bats,” said Benicia manager Carl Rendell.

Benicia’s pitching was just as dominant during the series. After Sammy Peterson pitched a complete game in Wednesday’s 14-3 victory, Jaxson Bates and Peter Templeton combined on a four-hitter Thursday and didn’t allow an earned run. Bates pitched four innings to earn the win while Templeton struck out two in an inning of relief.

“Our pitching was stellar and we’ve got everybody ready for Sunday,” Rendell said.

Benicia’s offense scored in four of the five innings, beginning with three runs in the bottom of the first. Bates and Jayshaun Wise were each hit by a pitch, and a single by Chapman and a pair of North errors got Benicia off to a good start.

Benicia added three more runs an inning later to go up 6-0. Singles by Peterson and Chapman helped get the rally started and Shane Martin walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. Wise drove in another run on a fielder’s choice and Martin scored on an error. Benicia made it 9-0 with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to consecutive singles by Wise, Bates, Richard Mealey and Leli Fifita to start the inning.

North’s only run came in the top of the fifth when Vance Eschenburg scored on a two-out error. Benicia finished off the tournament by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth, Wise tripling home Chapman and later scoring on a ground out to end the game by the 10-run rule.

“I’m really happy with our performance and the way we’ve been playing,” Rendell said. “I expect big things from these guys. They have swagger.”

“After winning this tournament and blowing out the other team, I think we’re ready,” Chapman said.

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