by STAFF STAFF , Contra Costa Times

In an extremely rare feat, three Alameda Little League teams won California District 4 Tournament of Champion titles on that day. It is the first time since 1987 that three teams from one Little League organization won California District 4 TOC crowns in those divisions in the same season, said Bill Schaeffer, assistant district administrator. It was the first time in Alameda Little League's 30-year history that it had won three District 4 TOC titles.

In the Majors division, the Tapioca Express Alameda Mariners defeated the Lafayette Angels 2-1 in the championship game. The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but the Mariners tied the game in the top of the fourth on a home run to deep left field by Ryan Fong, his 11th of the season.

The Mariners scored the winning run in the fifth inning. Kaleo Johnson led off with a double and advanced to third on a Derek Lodge bunt, sliding in safely. Matt Esparza walked on four pitches to load the bases. With one out, Dylan Tonningsen hit a hard grounder to the third baseman, who forced Johnson at home. With two outs, Lodge scored on a wild pitch for the eventual winning run. Fong retired the final six Angels batters, including four by strikeout. He ended up with a complete-game one-hitter with six strikeouts. The Mariners finished their season with a sparkling 26-1 record.

In the AAA division championship game, the Alameda Vanguard Construction Express beat the Walnut Creek Mets by the same score as their Majors counterparts.

Jason Ravetti drove in Alex Achramowicz for the Express' first run. Pitcher Carson Bridges limited the Mets to one run through 5 1/3 innings. With the score tied at one in the top of the fifth, Kendric Murphy started a double play by grabbing a fly ball down the third base line. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sebastian Hobbs laid down a perfect bunt to score Bradley Anderson with the eventual winning run.

The Mets threatened in the sixth inning. Aaron Hoff made a running catch for the first out, but the Mets eventually loaded the bases with one out. With the infield playing in, Logan Anderson scooped up a grounder and fired home for the second out. Relief pitcher Bradley Anderson clinched the victory with a strikeout, finishing the Express' season with an outstanding 22-1 record.

In the AA championship game, the Dusty Baker Baseball Camp Storm came from behind with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat the North Oakland Redwings 6-5.

Relief pitcher Chioke Armstrong-Malloy set up the rally in the top of the sixth inning by setting down the final three North Oakland batters. In the bottom of the inning, the Storm rallied with batters Luca Van Der Meer, Jarod Bussey, Kody Johnston, Kai Chin, Tyler Esplana, Eric Fong, Ethan Hernandez and Josh Cleto. Cleto drove in Fong with the winning run.

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