JAXSON BATES (left) and Peter Templeton (right) will play key roles for Benicia’s Junior League all-star team.

Carl Rendell has coached some pretty good baseball teams over the years at various levels in Benicia Little League – including the Cardinals, who swept to the Juniors Tournament of Champions title last month. Now Rendell gets to coach Benicia’s Junior League all-star team – a squad chock full of talent from top to bottom.

“This is probably the strongest team I’ve ever coached,” Rendell said. “We have nine solid pitchers and everybody can hit. It should be fun.”

Four hurlers anchor a pitching staff that should hold up well in tournament competition. Richard Mealey and Peter Templeton helped pitch the Cardinals to a 17-3 overall record, while teammates Sammy Peterson and Jaxson Bates made up the core of the Padres’ pitching staff during the regular season.

“They’re all quality starters and have been starting all year,” Rendell said. “I can start any one of those four and feel confident.”

Benicia’s defense is strong up the middle with Mealey, Bates and Jayshaun Wise, who are interchangeable at second base and shortstop. Peterson and Braeden Chapman will see a lot of time at first base while Templeton and Zion Trammell will hold things down at third base. Shane Martin is the regular catcher, with Chapman as a backup.

The outfield consists of Arian Chapman, Zion Judkins, Leli Fifita, Enrique Cabral-Mixco and Sean Kennedy. Fifita, the two Chapmans, Wise, Martin and Trammell can also come out of the bullpen to pitch.

Of the 13 players on the roster, six played for the champion Cardinals. Braeden Chapman was the leadoff hitter for the Cardinals and will likely lead off for the Junior all-stars. Martin is another hitter with speed who will be found at the top of the lineup. Players like Wise, Bates and the Chapmans will bat in the middle of the lineup.

“I have eight really fast runners so we’ll have speed throughout the lineup,” Rendell said. “And everybody tends to hit for average and can drive in a lot of runs.”

Benicia has already bonded as a team. Peterson, Martin and Kennedy live on the same street, and a lot of the players are really good friends off the field. Now they have the opportunity to play on the same team in a quest for a District 53 championship – and more.

Standing in the way in a two-team District 53 bracket is a combined squad called the “North” – made up of players from American Canyon, Healdsburg and Middletown.

“I think it’s going to be a lot more competitive this year because of the combined team,” Rendell said. “That makes them a lot stronger than they’ve been in the past.” The District 53 Tournament began Wednesday night and continues Thursday night at Fitzgerald Field.

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