An action-packed day of Little League games on Saturday at Carter Field in Petaluma saw three teams force extra games Sunday to decide All-Star championships in District 35.
For the three teams that came up short at the 10-and-under, 11-u and 12-u levels Saturday, it was their first losses of the tournament and came against teams that had already lost in a previous matchup — meaning three rematches will be played Sunday to determine the champions.
During the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Petaluma National first baseman Paxton Kirk gets the out on Rincon Valley baserunner JR Wolken, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Players from the Rincon Valley 10-and-under All-Star team watch Saturday’s 11-u contest in Petaluma. (Kent Porter – The Press Democrat)
During the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Petaluma National’s Nico Matteucci gets a hit off Rincon Valley pitcher Jacoby Purugganan, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Rincon Valley batter Leo Chatham III lays down a sacrifice bunt against Petaluma National during the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Rincon Valley pitcher Rudy Azevedo delivers a pitch to a Petaluma National batter during the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
During the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Mack Kane of Rincon Valley dodges a pitch as Petaluma National’s Paxton Kirk makes the catch, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Rincon Valley third baseman Dom Woolsey reacts after tagging out Charlie Powell of Petaluma National during Saturday’s 11-u championship game. (Kent Porter – The Press Democrat)
During the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Petaluma National’s Ace Scafani is tagged out at first by Lucas Indart of Rincon Valley, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
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During the District 35 U-11 Little League Championship, Petaluma National first baseman Paxton Kirk gets the out on Rincon Valley baserunner JR Wolken, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Petaluma. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
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12-u: Petaluma National 5, Rincon Valley 0
Petaluma National Little League shut out Rincon Valley Little League behind a dominant performance from pitcher Mathew Mason, who lasted 5 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked none on 85 pitches.
“We’ve played this team a lot. They know us. We know them,” Petaluma National head coach Nick Neve said. “It really comes down to how hard everybody plays, and our boys came out today.”
The two teams previously met Wednesday, when Rincon Valley got the 6-4 win.
Petaluma National got out to a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to two two-run home runs. Mason hit the first one and Jasper German delivered the second.
“Matthew Mason pitched a heck of a game, came out, hit a home run, that’s the kind of effort you need,” Neve said.
Nicholas Gillis added some cushion to Petaluma National’s lead in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to center field.
“We have power up and down the lineup, so it doesn’t surprise me and I hope it continues,” Neve said of his team’s three-home run day. “Rincon Valley is not gonna go away. They are gonna play us hard all six innings tomorrow, so if we want to win, we are gonna have to play harder than them.”
Rincon Valley head coach Tiffany Bagala said her team kept up a high level of intensity, and she told them to carry that into tomorrow’s game.
“We knew this was gonna be a fight. Two teams that are very evenly matched. It’s really fun baseball,” Bagala said. “I told our boys to come out tomorrow and leave everything they’ve got on the field.”
Bagala is also the first woman to coach a Rincon Valley Little League team.
“I am a coach, just like any of these other guys, of course, but it’s a pretty incredible honor — not only to be the first, but for the kids to soak up what I have to give,” Bagala said. “I think there’s a mutual respect between my players and myself. It’s been a pretty incredible ride. I’m not ready for it to be over.”
A rematch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday for the championship.
11-u: Petaluma National 10, Rincon Valley 9
Petaluma National’s 11-and-under team outlasted Rincon Valley to force a rematch Sunday for the championship.
Petaluma National broke out for a 5-1 lead in the first inning before a four-run top of the second by Rincon Valley tied the game at 5-5.
A four-run inning in the bottom of the second gave Petaluma National a 9-5 lead.
Rincon Valley tightened its deficit with two runs in the top of the third, making it 9-7. Petaluma scored a run in bottom half of the inning on a single, giving them a three-run lead.
Rincon Valley scored two runs in the top of the fifth to close the gap to one run but ultimately couldn’t pull off the comeback.
“For us, we’re ultimately going up against the runners-up in the state championship. So we’re just trying to take down the team that we wanted to take down last year,” Petaluma National head coach Bob Kirk said. “Couldn’t be more proud of our kids.”
The two teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday for the championship.
10-u: Rincon Valley 5, Sebastopol 2
Rincon Valley’s four-run third inning was the difference in Saturday’s matchup that forced a Sunday rematch.
Sebastopol took a one-run lead in the top of the first inning before Rincon Valley tied it in the bottom of the second.
After Rincon Valley’s big third inning, Sebastopol scored again in the top of the fourth, but could get no closer.
Sawyer Andersen earned the win for Rincon Valley, allowing one hit and one run over five innings, striking out 13 and walking none.
The championship rematch is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday.