Folsom National Little League’s 9-10-year old all-start team got a tough bracket draw and had to play last year’s District 54 champions (Woodcreek) and runner up (Lakeside) as well as El Dorado Hills South in their pool play. The top two teams out of the bracket advance to a double elimination tournament that begins Sunday and ends with the District 54 champion being named on July 12.

Folsom National’s first opponent was Woodcreek on Sunday and the result was a 16-2 loss. There were not a lot of offensive highlights as Folsom managed only three hits. Catcher Trevor Darrow had a perfect day with the bat going 2-for-2 with a single and a double and second baseman Evan Stafford added a single. Folsom scored its runs in the second inning following Darrow’s leadoff single, a passed ball moved him to second, followed by a delay steal of third and steal of home. First baseman Tyler Jacobs drew a walk, stole second as Darrow moved to third and moved to third on Darrow’s steal of home.

Jack Sa stepped up to bat and put the ball in play with a grounder to third to help Jacobs score on a fielder’s choice. Folsom’s pitchers were Andrew Romero, Cole Wilson, Jacobs and Dylan Crane.

Folsom then played Lakeside on Tuesday and lost 9-6. Darrow, Jacobs and Crane all saw time on the mound.

The game was low scoring for the first two innings as a pitchers duel ensued. Darrow and the Lakeside pitcher threw strikes and kept the walks to a minimum. It only took 30 minutes to play three innings helped by some exceptional defense with catches by outfielders Cole Wilson and Keyan Stanfield.

Some defensive lapses and timely hits allowed Lakeside to pull ahead in the third inning but a sixth-inning comeback that included a base-clearing double by Crane pulled Folsom National to within three before Lakeside recorded the last out. Andrew Romero, Darrow and Crane all had two hits.

Folsom National’s third opponent was El Dorado Hills South Wednesday and the result was an 18-4 loss. Tyler Jacobs, Crane and Christopher Wiese shared time on the mound.

Folsom jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning by stringing together hits by Crane, Darrow, Jacobs and Romero. Crane scored on Darrow’s single and both Darrow and Jacobs later stole home on passed balls. El Dorado Hills tied the game in the second and pulled ahead in the third for good.

The game concluded a tough week for the team, but the boys each gained experience and enjoyed their first exposure to all-star baseball.

Members of the team included: Dylan Crane, Joe Curry, Trevor Darrow, Josh Gillespie, Tyler Jacobs, Bryce Mendenhall, James Olpin, Andrew Romero, Jack Sa, Evan Stafford, Keyan Stanfield, Cole Wilson, Christopher Wiese.

Dave Stafford managed the team and Matt Darrow and Tim Jacobs served as coaches.