San Rafael Stars Still Seek First Win Despite Wellbeloved

Despite two solid efforts by Hayden Wellbeloved, the San Rafael Little League 11-12 All-Stars dropped their first two games in the District 3 tournament.

With his off-speed pitches keeping the Novato American hitters off-balance for 5 1/3 innings, Wellbeloved pitched well enough to win one game, but San Rafael nonetheless suffered a tough 4-3 defeat.

Wellbeloved gave up only one earned run, scattering nine hits while time and again making quality pitches to end the inning with runners in scoring position.

San Rafael got on the board first in the second inning. Maceo Munoz hit a one-out triple and two batters later Spencer Smead plated him with a clutch two-out single.

San Rafael scored twice in the fourth inning. Munoz led off with a double (his single in the sixth gave him a 3-for-3 day and only a home run short of the cycle) and Smead followed with a one-out single (his second of three on the day). After an RBI groundout by Brendan Lenz, Dominic Pedroli followed with an RBI single and San Rafael had a 3-1 lead.  

Novato American answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning and one more in the fifth that eventually allowed it to win the game, but not without some drama.  

Munoz, Smead and Lenz all singled to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Unfortunately for San Rafael, a grounder to third led to a forceout at the plate and a comebacker to the pitcher proved to be the final out in a well played and especially well pitched game.

Speaking of good pitching, San Rafael ran into an outstanding pitcher in an 11-0 loss to Tiburon in the tournament opener. Wellbeloved had the team’s only hit in the game.

Andy Bussey pitched well in his two innings on the mound and Pedroli made a tremendous catch in right field to save two runs.

Here’s a capsule look at each of the San Rafael All-Star teams:

11-12-Year-Old All-Stars

Roster: Andrew Bussey, Richard Dibley, Maceo Munoz, Hayden Wellbeloved, Carson Edgerton, Brandan Lenz, Jonathan Sumner, Ryan Moynihan, Alex Pagano, Mack Burns, Dominic Pedroli, Spencer Smead.

Results: Tiburon 11, San Rafael 0; Novato American 4, San Rafael 3; Dixie-Terra Linda 13, San Rafael 3.

Upcoming schedule: Wednesday vs. San Francisco National at Glenwood Field, 5:30 p.m.; Thursday at San Francisco American, 5:30 p.m.

Note: Single-elimination quarterfinals begin Saturday.

Coach Mike Dibley’s thoughts: “Our players kept working hard and maintained a positive and supportive attitude. We hope to keep the improved play rolling.”

10-11-Year-Old All-Stars

Roster: Adam Sumner, Marco Muschi, Rhys Scarabosio, Gabriel Yetnikoff, Will Allison, Jeffrey Ford, Graham Gilles, Danny Roland, Connor O’Crowley, Jacob Zelikovsky, Bailey Bowler, Ty Kamys.

Results: San Francisco National 18, San Rafael 1; Novato South 13, San Rafael 1; Novato American 12, San Rafael 2; Dixie-Terra Linda 17, San Rafael 1.

Upcoming schedule: Wednesday at Tiburon, 5:30 p.m.

Note: Single-elimination quarterfinals begin Saturday.

9-10-Year-Old All-Stars

Roster: Ethan Bell, Nick Besson, Nicholas Boulter, Jack Cottrell, Eamon Davidson, Keaton Flores, Gibson Hoch, Will Mosher, Kevin Schmitt, Eric Wasserman, Cole Weiss, Logan Wright.

Results: San Francisco National 11, San Rafael  0; San Francisco American 8, San Rafael 1; San Rafael 3, Tiburon 1.

Highlights: Keaton Flores and Jack Cottrell combined to one-hit Tiburon as San Rafael recorded its first victory of pool play. Ethan Bell and Gibson Hoch scored for San Rafael.

Upcoming schedule: Wednesday at Dixie-Terra Linda, 5:30 p.m.; Thursday vs. Novato American at Glenwood Field, 5:30 p.m.

Note: Single-elimination quarterfinals begin Saturday.

Manager Greg Mosher comments: "It's good to get into the win column. We have been playing hard and pitching great all tournament. We were finally able to score some runs (against Tiburon)."