By Mike James


The North Coast Athletics, who are part of the U.S.S.S.A. 16 under baseball organization, headed to Marin County last Saturday to play in a two-day tournament.




Game One


Everett James pitched four innings with two strikeouts, one walk and nine hits.


Cody Raudio pitched two innings with one strikeout and one walk for the Athletics win over the Livermore Bulldogs, 9-5.


The top hitters were Tony Melia going 1x3 with one home run, four RBIs and one walk. Ryan Stevens was 1x3 with one three-run home run and four RBIs.


Anthony Ruano was 1x2 with a run and Richard Tamborini was 2x3 with one RBI.


Elliott Hee, Steven Young and Al Huerta all scored.




Game Two


Steven Baumeister pitched four and two-thirds innings: seven strikeouts, three walks, three hits in a close, one-point loss, 9-8, for the Athletics against the P-Town from Petaluma.




Derek Shea pitched two and one-third innings, throwing two strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter.


Melia again led the hitting, going 4x4 with one home run, two doubles and three RBIs.


Tamborini was 1x4 with one home run. Stevens went 2x4 with one double and one RBI.


Huerta was 1x4 with one stolen base and Young was 1x3 with one single.


Freitas was 1x2 and scored. Raudio was 2x4 with one double and a stolen base and Shea was 1x1.




Game Three


Melia pitched four and two-thirds innings, throwing four strikeouts, two walks and three hits in the teams 1-7 loss against the Rodeo Balz-Out team.


Raudio pitched one and one-third innings with no strikeouts, no walks, two hits


Alex Lemmon had one RBI and Huerta made the only run.




Game Four


Everett James pitched the entire game, throwing three strikeouts, one walk and four hits in the Athletics second tournament win against the Bulldogs from Livermore, 7-1.


Baumeister was 1x3. Raudio was also 1x3 with a run. Melia went and Lance Fabian both went 1x3 with RBIs.


Tamborini was 2x3 with a double, one home run, and three RBIs. Young was 2x2 with a double. Freitas and Shea were both walked and scored.


The team is getting better with their hitting, said Coach Bud Melia, but there are still some improvements to be made.


In the U.S.S.S.A. State Championship Tournament in Woodland, May 27, the Athletics beat the Woodland Pioneers, 6-5.


It was a hard fought game with the Athletics coming from behind, 5-0, to take the win.


The team lost to San Jose, 6-1, with Everett James pitching a great game, going the distance against the state champions.


The Athletics next game will be held Saturday, June 11 in Elk Grove.