Community Corner

'Dream Come True'—Petaluma Little League Off to World Series

The team won the West Regional Championship on Saturday.

Story updated 12:02 a.m.

They've done it! The  will head to the World Series, after defeating Hawaii 7-5 in San Bernardino on Saturday.

They're due to fly to South Williamsport, Pa. Sunday morning where games will begin Thursday.

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"Some of them are still in shock," board member Eric Smith told Patch on Saturday night. "I heard some of them saying, 'This is a dream come true.'"

"I mean, this is something you see in the movies or on TV, but it doesn't happen in your own life—to go to the World Series," he said. "But now it has."

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Smith said he wasn't sure yet how many parents would go with the players.

"We're still trying to figure all that out," said Smith who was fielding lots of phone calls Saturday night. "This isn't something you can really plan for. It's still pretty overwhelming right now. It's an incredible comeback from last year, when we were behind."

On Saturday, Petaluma scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead over a team from Hawaii. In the bottom of the sixth inning, its last at bat, the Hawaii team had runners on first and second base with two outs.

Then a base hit got past the Petaluma team's left fielder and both runners scored, making the score 7-5 with the tying run on base and the winning run coming to bat.

Petaluma National claimed the Hawaii runner who scored the sixth run did not touch third base as he ran toward home plate. Petaluma appealed that sixth run to the third base umpire who agreed the runner's foot did not touch the base. The runner was called out and the game ended with a 7-5 victory for the team.

Asked about the reason behind the team's amazing run at the Westcoast Regional championships in San Bernardino where Petaluma National have won all four games, Smith attributed it to years of practice as well as a strong team ethic.

"We're 13 kids strong," Smith said. "They go out there and they do their job. Many of them have been playing together for a number of years. They believe in each other. They've been saying, 'We can do this.'"

Petaluma National will now face the Northeast champion team, Fairfield American Little League at noon on Aug. 16. World Series matches will run through Aug. 26.

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If you have photos/video from Saturday's game, feel free to upload to this story if you wish. And feel free to leave a comment for these little guys beneath this story.


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