After hard fought seasons in both little leagues, Peak Performance, champions of the Alpine-West Menlo Little League will face Goetz Brothers, winners of the Menlo-Atherton Little League, in the city championship game this Friday, June 20.
The game is set to start at 5:30 p.m. at Burgess Park in the Menlo Park Civic Center.
The game, traditionally played on July Fourth, was set for June 20 because the holiday falls in the middle of Little League All-Star tournaments and conflicts with family vacations, said Randy Tinsley, president of the Alpine-West Menlo Little League. “Getting complete attendance and participation by each team was a little bit challenged,” he said.
Peak Performance, which finished its regular season with a 12-6 record, won all four games in the Alpine/West Menlo postseason tournament to earn its birth in the city championship. Goetz Brothers concluded its regular season in second place with a 12-8 record, but won the Menlo-Atherton playoffs by beating Draeger’s in the championship.
Peak Performance is led by its three league All-Stars: pitcher/shortstop/catcher Michael Tinsley, pitcher/utility player Charlie Cain, and catcher/pitcher Christopher Lee.
Tinsley led the Alpine/West Menlo Little League in home runs with 15, while Cain had two game winning extra-base hits for Peak Performance. Peak Performance assistant coach Randy Tinsley praised Lee’s pitching ability and consistency behind home plate.
Goetz Brothers features the intimidating duo of Erik Amundsen and Keenan Carr. Amundsen has been a dominant force on the pitching mound, while Carr has been able to provide clutch power hitting. Both players were influential to the team’s run through the postseason tournament.
Peak Performance capped off its four wins in the double-elimination postseason tournament with a 9-2 victory over Hengehold. The game was highlighted by home runs by Michal Tinsley and Cain and excellent pitching by Lee and Royce Branning.
Goetz Brothers had a slightly more difficult route through the Menlo-Atherton postseason tournament. After winning its first two games to advance to the league championship, Goetz Brothers lost to Draeger’s 9-4. However, due to the double-elimination format of the tournament, Goetz Brothers got another chance to face Draeger’s, which had already lost earlier in the tournament. Goetz Brothers made the most its second chance and defeated Draeger’s 3-0 to win the Menlo-Atherton championship and earn its place in the city championship game.
