LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lafayette Little League All-Stars Shine


District 4 Champion 11-year Old All-Stars Photo provided

Lafayette Little Leaguers are in the midst of one of the most successful postseasons in league history.

The 11-year olds All-Stars captured the league's second ever District 4 title, playing errorless ball in its four tournament games and outscoring opponents 28-3. In the title game, played at Lafayette's Buckeye Field, the local stars shutout Antioch, 6-0.

Ty Whelehan pitched three complete games in the tournament, including two shutouts. Matty Vicencio and Kyle Mizell combined to take down the defending champion, Continental of Concord, by allowing just one hit and one run in an 11-1 quarter-final win.

Matt Burns and Robby Rowell led Lafayette's potent offense by accounting for 13 of the team's 23 runs batted in. Burns smashed two home runs while Rowell and Kyle Mizell each hit one of their own. Burns delivered the decisive blow in the title game, connecting on a towering three-run bomb.

The 11-year olds advance to Woodland this week in pursuit of Lafayette's first sectional championship.

The Lafayette 12-year olds All-Stars had one of the best showings in recent years, placing fourth in the 13-team District 4 Tournament. The locals got off to a fast start, thumping Concord American League, 10-0, on the strength of Devan Regan's shutout pitching and a home run by Ryan Levy. Levy pitched the stars to their next win against Continental (Walnut Creek).

After two tough losses, the squad rebounded with another blowout victory over Concord American. Levy pitch five shutout innings and Paul Griessal ripped a bases-clearing triple.

The Lafayette 9-year olds All Stars won nine-of-11 on its way to competing for championships in two tournaments. At the Tassajara Valley Tournament in Danville, the Lafayette boys rattled off three straight victories before falling in the semi-finals, 4-3 to Foothill Pleasanton. In the Granada Tournament in Livermore, the all-stars again raced to the championship game, only to come up one run short against Canyon Creek, who rallied with four runs in their final at bat.

The nine-year old were led by flame throwers Nick Kresnak, Vince Bianchina, Ryan Reilly and Murphy Baker. In the Tassajara tournament, Kresnak muscled up for grand slams in one game.