Tri-Valley Babe Ruth All-Stars Win World Series

Announcement, photo submitted by Tri-Valley Babe Ruth:

While many Bay Area teenagers enjoyed the 2015 summer at favorite vacation spots including the beach and the mountains, the Tri-Valley Babe Ruth 13-year-old all-stars from Pleasanton, Danville and San Ramon, attended a comprehensive summer baseball course.

Starting on June 29 and continuing through Aug 22, the dedicated and talented ball-players averaged three hours a day of intensive baseball practice, instruction, and development. Their goal was to learn the game of baseball better than any other 13-year-old team in the country and pass the final exam: win the Babe Ruth World Series Title in Jamestown, New York.

After eight, intensive, often extremely hot, weeks of practice, travel, and play, the motivated group of East Bay athletes, representing the Pacific Southwest region, demonstrated mastery in the “AP baseball” summer course when they destroyed, Tri County Maine, (the New England region representative) 20-0, in the World Series Championship game.

The road to Jamestown started in Ukiah for Tri-Valley who beat Palo Alto in the finals to win the Northern California State tournament. Tri-Valley then traveled south to Fresno for the Pacific Southwest regional tournament. In the 112 degree Fresno heat, Tri-Valley completed their second test by beating a very strong Hawaiian team, to earn their first birth in the 13 year-old World Series since 2009.

After two final weeks of preparation, Tri-Valley flew to Buffalo and then traveled to Jamestown, NY via luxury bus. Once in Jamestown, the West Coast boys were spoiled as royalty from several host ambassador families. Transportation, meals, and laundry were meticulously taken care of at no expense to Tri-Valley.

In addition, the local Jamestown supporters, totaling 50 or more residents of all ages, hosted house BBQ’s, games, and amazing parties for the visiting boys and families. Tri-Valley manager, Tony Battilega, described the experience as “star-like”.

“We were strangers from across the country and they treated us like family. Never before in my life have I been treated with such unconditional kindness. We will forever be connected with the awesome people of Jamestown.”

The World Series consisted of pool play, seeding, and single elimination. Playing sluggishly after the East Coast travel and multiple WS events, Tri-Valley lost game 1 to Maine. However, the resilient boys started their ascent to the championship the next day and didn’t look back. Game 2 was a run-rule over Tallahassee, Fl. Game 3 was a victory over against Camas, Washington and game 4 was a win over Ithaca, NY. The 3-1, pool play, record earned Tri Valley the 2 seed in the American division.

This put them against The Bronx, NY … who wound up driving their loud and obnoxious selves home the next day after Tri-Valley beat their ace. Tri-Valley’s sixth game of the tournament matched them against Bismark, ND, the 1 seed from the National pool, and only undefeated team in World Series play.

Any team with 50 wins is intimidating but especially when that same team only has 1 loss, so the East Bay kids brought their “A” game in the semi-finals and easily handed the Midwest Champs their departure ticket with only their 2nd loss of the summer.

The next day, Tri-Valley prepared for their final exam by having a team breakfast, drove to beautiful Robert Dietrich stadium on the Jamestown Community College campus, took championship photos and then took pregame batting practice… Most testing sites are quiet, but on this day, Tri Valley’s bats were loud and echoed through out the state of New York. Tri-Valley scored 9 runs in the first inning, aced the exam, and graduated from baseball summer school with a 20-0 pounding of Maine, to avenge their game one loss.

Although, school officially starts Tuesday, and the 13 (some now 14) year old boys didn’t get much of a tan or catch many any fish, Tri-Valley spent the summer learning many lessons about life, themselves, teamwork, humanity, and what it takes to be a champion.

Tri-Valley Babe Ruth 13 year old WS Championship Roster w Coaches:

#1 - Peter Montini, OF – Pleasanton

#2 – Cory Steinhauer, C/INF – Pleasanton

#3 - Max Masajlo, OF/P – Pleasanton

#4 – Trevor Jackson, C/OF/INF – Pleasanton

#5 - Michael O’Hara, OF/3B - Danville

#8 – David Grant, Coach – Danville

#13 – Tommy Gavello, 2B – Danville

#15 – Jack Grant, SS – Danville

#19 – Mike O’Hara, Coach - Danville

#21 – Matt Steinhauer, Coach - Pleasanton

#23 - Josh Anderson, P/1B – Pleasanton

#24 – Joey Battilega, CF/P - Pleasanton

#27 – Tony Battilega, Manager - Pleasanton

#35 – Kyle Harrison P/1B/OF - Danville

#42 – Jaden Sheppard, P/1B – Pleasanton

#52 – Beau Garratt, P/1B, OF – Danville

#55 - Evan Chevalier, P/OF – Danville

#66 – Asher Golden, 3B/P – San Ramon