Petaluma Nationals Win 5-4 Monday in a Close Game That Stretches into 8th Inning

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Danny Marzo crushed a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Petaluma National Little League a 5-4 extra innings victory over New Jersey in the elimination bracket of the Little League World Series on Monday. San Rafael

Petaluma, representing the West region, and Par Troy and Parsippany, New Jersey, representing the Mid-Atlantic region, went to the top of the fourth inning in a 0-0 stalemate until New Jersey catcher Anthony Scannelli blasted a two-run homer over the left field wall to put New Jersey up 2-0.

The New Jersey lead was short-lived as Petaluma responded in the bottom half of the fourth. Bradley Smith, known as Petaluma's 6-foot-3 slugger, bunted in Logan Douglas from third to cut the deficit to one-run. Hance Smith would single to left field later in the inning, plating two runs and giving Petaluma a 3-2 lead.

Smith extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning when he smacked a line drive into right-center field, scoring Douglas.

Smith, who was Petaluma's starting pitcher, couldn't hold the two-run lead in the top of the sixth, allowing a pair of New Jersey runs which tied the game.

Petaluma will play Connecticut on Tuesday night in another elimination game at 5 p.m. Pacific.