Natomas Vanderbilt Commodores faced the Antelope Royals in the District 6 majors championship Saturday morning at the North Natomas Regional Park. / Photo: Trevor Horn
BY TREVOR HORN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
The North Natomas Vanderbilt Commodores 11/12 year-old majors little league team made sure to commemorate the new field the right way.
In the inaugural season of three new fields located at North Natomas Regional Park, the Commodores took an early lead and held on for a 4-3 victory over the Antelope Royals in the District 6 majors championship Saturday morning.
A standing-room only crowd on hand to watch Max Martinez hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Jordan Greenly hit a solo home run in the second and threw a complete game to give North Natomas the first district championship at the majors level in the club’s 10- year history.
“It means a lot to this community. It means a lot to these kids and to their families,” Vanderbilt manager Tom Martinez said. “For most of us, we’ve been here with them since the early ages in t-ball and to see them develop and make new friends, you couldn’t ask for a better finish.”
The beautiful field inside the spacious park is the newest little league facility in the region, prompting league president Dustin Romero to say simply: “it’s awesome.”
“Little league baseball is all about making new friends and creating memories,” Martinez said. “I couldn’t have foretold this type of ending. It’s beautiful.”
Greenly led of the game with a single before Martinez’ home run. The Commodores took a 3-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Tommy Bowron which scored Sean Switzer.
Greenly’s solo shot in the second sailed well over the center field fence sign reading 220 feet.
“That was close to 290 feet,” Vanderbilt coach Dave Greenly said. “That was probably one of the farthest I’ve seen him hit.”
Greenly held the Royals to just two hits in the first five innings as Antelope starting pitcher Charlie Simpson settled down, only giving up a fifth inning triple to Switzer after the second inning.
The Commodores outscored Grant, Rio Linda and the Royals 41-11 in the first three games of the tournament.
Mark Langerstrom and Carlos Young led off the bottom of the sixth inning with singles for Antelope off Greenly. Langerstom scored on a wild pitch and Young scored on a double by Simpson who also scored from third on a wild pitch.
Greenly said he then took a deep breath and thought to himself, “I was going to go out and throw strikes and pound the (strike) zone and hope it works out.”
With the bases empty after the three runs scored to make it 4-3, Greenly struck out the final two batters to give the Commodores the title and the chance to hold up the district banner.
“The Royals refused to go away,” Martinez said. “When most teams get discouraged and fall apart. They hung tight.”
Hunter Getchel had a triple in the first inning for Vanderbilt.
Greenly, Martinez, Getchel and Brandon Villaflor will play for North Natomas majors all-stars which begin play 4 p.m. on June 29 at Rio Linda Little League Babe Best Park. Austin Morgan will play for the 10/11 all-stars and Christian Lozano will play for the 9/10 all-stars.
Contact Trevor Horn at [email protected] and on Twitter @trevhorn.
Natomas Vanderbilt Commodores win the champtionship. / Photo: Trevor Horn
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