BENICIA’S MAJORS all-star team gets to play on its home turf Friday at Community Park in the opening round of the District 53 Tournament.

To reach the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., your Majors all-star team first has to win its own District championship. It’s been nine years since Benicia’s 11/12s have won a District 53 title, and Benicia will have to beat out 12 other squads when the 2016 Majors tournament begins Thursday at Community Park.

Benicia manager Derek Trammell is hoping a depth of pitching and overall talent – as well as a friendly home crowd at Community Park – will vault his squad through what will likely be a grueling 13-team tournament.

“We have a ton of pitchers which is why I think we have a pretty good chance,” Trammell said.

Big lefty Jakob Boyle and big righty Devin Mason, as well as veterans Dylan Trammell and Ben Saitz, give Benicia four quality arms at the top of the rotation. Ciaran O’Connell – one of only two players on the 13-player roster who didn’t play all-stars last year (Xander Estrada) – throws hard and was one of the tougher pitchers to hit during the regular season.

“They’re just rock solid,” Trammel said of his pitchers. “There’s no hole. They’re all No. 1 pitchers.”

Estrada, Jake Matteson, Jacob French, Gabriel Martinez and Trey Trias are also capable of taking the hill if necessary, and Benicia appears to be solid defensively.

Offense shouldn’t be a problem. Mason and T.J. Valentine tied for the league lead in over-the-fence home runs (6) while Trias, O’Connell, Trammel, Dominic Romano and Nui Fifita are all solid hitters. Trammell hit .706 with runners in scoring position during the regular season, and Saitz is a superb lefty leadoff hitter who can bunt and takes a lot of pitches.

“We have a ton of versatility,” Trammell said. “We’re deep and there’s no drop-off anywhere. It’s a manager’s nightmare but it’s a really good problem to have.”

It’s been several years since Benicia had 11-year-olds on its Majors all-star team, but three made the roster this year (French, Estrada and Matteson). Nine players were on the 10/11 all-star team that went 2-2 in last year’s District 53 tournament.

Benicia opens this year’s tournament Friday at 5:30 p.m. against St. Helena. Other leagues competing for the title include Fairfield Pacific, Fairfield Atlantic, Suisun, Napa American, Napa National, American Canyon, Vallejo American, Vallejo National, Tri-Valley, Sonoma and Middletown.

“There’s nothing that worries me about this team,” Trammell said of his club. “We just have to get out of our district. If we can do that, we can go a long way. But it’s going to be really, really hard to get out of district.”

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