Albany Little League’s 2012 Juniors All-Star team took home the District 4 championship on July 10. The 13-5 win over Antioch Little League capped an undefeated run through the district tournament that included wins over Pinole Hercules (7-2), North Oakland (a come-from-behind 7-6 thriller) and Antioch (6-3 in the semifinals). The Albany squad of thirteen is led by Manager Stephen DeGange and Coaches Jeff Shipley and Marc Jacobs. The players are Avery Tonkyn (14), Chet Shemchuk (13), Clayton McDonald (13), Cody Sim (13), Dixon Layton (14), Gianni Bloom (12), Jaxon Stuhr (13), JT Freeman (13), Leo Pollack (14), Liam Knowles (13), Nico Bilbao (13), Samuel Eggers (13), Theo Miller-Lewis (14) and Abraham Hill (13).
From squeeze bunts, to grand slams, from key strike outs to running down balls deep in the outfield, the team’s success has resulted from contributions from every player. Each has had his moment (and some have had many) and they are poised to give their best effort when Sectional play begins on Saturday, July 14, in Dixon, California against a tough squad from Benicia Little League. You can follow the team through District 4’s website (www.llcad4.org), District 4’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/California.District.4), Albany Little League’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Albany-Little-League-California/189786301050234?ref=ts) and Twitter feed (@albanylittlelea).