On a rain-soaked Presidents’ Day weekend, the Delta Dawgs 14U travel team started its season by winning its first tournament of 2009, defeating the Sacramento Bandits 4-2. Although the Dawgs ended pool play 0-1-1, they bounced back and won their next four games in a row to secure the championship.

Led by great defensive plays by Mitchell Majewski, Carlos Jauregui and timely hits from Dillon Casey, Jordan Gough, Jerome Hill and Tyler Cox, the Dawgs came from behind in two of their games to secure a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. In addition, Mike Allen contributed on Sunday by blasting a 400-foot homerun that disappeared into the night sky.

With Tyler Saude behind the plate, Dante Mayes pitched the Dawgs to a 7-4 victory in the semi-final game against the Reno Muckdawgs, and Tyler Vistalli pitched the championship game, striking out 12 batters in five innings and allowing only three hits to help secure the 4-2 win.

“I’m very proud of our boys,” said Dawgs Manager Bert Gough. “They worked well as a team after their struggles on Saturday and never gave up.”