The season didn’t go as expected for the Turlock American Little League Senior All Stars, but regardless they held their heads high after they finished the summer season as Section 6 runners-up.

 “I am just really proud of the kids,” said head coach Corey Rodriguez.

The team was hoping to compete well in Sections after earning a forfeit District 73 banner.

The limited bracket in the District Tournament bracket, of just two teams, set up the title game instantly between Turlock American and Turlock National, but the Nationals couldn’t field a squad and were forced to forfeit.

“So, essentially we won District by default,” said Rodriguez.

The American side found themselves in a first round battle against District 67 Champions, Spreckles Park Little League.

In that game, the American side fell in a 7-1 contest on Saturday June 30.

The loss then dropped the Americans to the elimination bracket to take on Western Little League from District 8 on July 2.

The Turlock squad booted Western, winning 15-9 in an eight-inning game.

The following day, Turlock beat Spreckles in a close 1-0 game after Dom Rodriguez and Will York combined to pitch an eight-inning no hitter.

“That game was all just Dom and Will, they just dealt,” said Rodriguez. “Will came in and just threw four pitches for the last inning.”

Following immediately the first win, they played once again in back-to-back elimination games, only their second and final game against Spreckles didn’t go as well.

Turlock led 1-0 until the sixth inning, then after that the wheels fell off said Rodriguez.

Spreckles went on to outscore Turlock 10-2, winning in the end 10-3.

The American squad included couple of local high school ball players in Will York (Turlock Christian), Dom Rodriguez (THS), Devan Arroyo (THS) and Joe Mikkelsen (THS).

York was a starter for the Eagles varsity baseball this past spring as a freshman and played in 23 games, finishing with a batting average of .407.

That Eagles team went 20-4 overall and won their first ever Central California Athletic Alliance title with a record of 13-1.

They went on to reach the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-VII playoff tournament.

Rodriguez, Arroyo and Mikkelsen are expected to join the varsity squad for the Bulldogs of Turlock next spring.

The Bulldogs are coming off their final season competing in the Central California Conference, where they captured one final CCC title after tying Buhach Colony and Pitman at 9-3 for a share of the banner.