Benicia Little League’s Majors all-star team got more great pitching Wednesday night in a 6-1 victory over Tri-Valley in the District 53 Tournament at Community Park.
Pitchers Devin Mason, Jakob Boyle, Ben Saitz and Jacob French combined on a one-hitter as Benicia (5-1) moved one win away from a berth in the championship round. It was the second straight one-hitter for Benicia’s pitching staff, which has allowed only one run over the past two games and only 17 runs in six games.
Benicia jumped on Tri-Valley early when Mason singled home Dylan Trammell in the first inning and Trey Trias followed with a sacrifice fly to score Gabriel Martinez. Saitz scored on a passed ball in the second inning to make it 3-0.
Tri-Valley’s only hit of the game came in the bottom of the third when Justin Bidleman singled home Trenton Schmidt to make it 3-1. Benicia answered with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Mason led off with a double, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a ground ball by Trias. Jake Matteson scored on a two-out passed ball to make it 5-1, and Martinez added an insurance run in the sixth when he doubled home Saitz.
Mason pitched the first two innings and didn’t allow a hit or a run, striking out three and walking three. Boyle allowed one hit and one run in two innings of relief and struck out two, and Saitz went 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run. French struck out the only batter he faced for the final out.
Saitz scored twice while Martinez, Mason and Matteson each went 2-for-3. Dominic Romano also had a hit for Benicia.
Benicia takes on either Fairfield Pacific or Napa American on Friday in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship round against unbeaten Napa National. Benicia has outscored its last three opponents 36-5.
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