Bragging rights on the line for San Mateo Little League

This game will be played about a week before the all-star season begins with the Minors and Majors Superbowls June 18 and 19, respectively, with the full District 52 all-star tournament beginning Saturday, June 22.

Jason Gordon, who has been involved with San Mateo American as a board member, regular-season and all-star coach, said the city championship game used to be a thing, but it hasn’t been played in the 23 years that I’ve been covering the Peninsula.

“It’s been a long time,” Gordon said. “We decided it was time to get it back rolling. … It’s been unanimously supported by both boards.”

Gordon said the two organizations flipped a coin to see which would host the first city title game and then alternate going forward.

With so much familiarity between the leagues’ kids, parents and coaches, there was like-minded thinking on both sides. Both programs dipped their toe into interleague play during the preseason and have now extended it to a city title game.

“It’s good for the city,” Gordon said. “These kids need to realize we’re not enemies.”

San Mateo is the only city in District 52 that still has two, distinct American and National league programs. Participation in Little League has dwindled locally amid the rise of the club baseball circuit. Pacifica used to have separate leagues but, for the first time this season, there is just one league in Pacifica. The same has occurred in other cities along the Peninsula, as well.

“Little League numbers have dwindled a little bit,” Gordon admitted.

But the San Mateo organizations are hoping that a city championship can help revitalize involvement.

And you couldn’t have asked for a better matchup with the San Mateo American Yankees taking on the San Mateo National Giants. Gordon said this particular game was originally scheduled for last Friday — which also happened to the first game of a three-game set between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.

But more importantly, this game is chance for those kids who didn’t make the all-star team a chance to be in the spotlight. Gordon said three of the Yankees’ players will play for his Majors All-Star team, but that means nearly a dozen other players won’t be playing all-stars. This is their chance to get a similar vibe to a District 52 title game.

“This game involves kids who aren’t all stars. They get one more chance to play and they get a chance to play in front of their all-star teammates. There are lot (of kids) who may not play baseball after this season,” Gordon said. “It’s good for the town. It’s good for baseball. It’s kind of a showcase for both leagues. Hopefully, hundreds of people will show up.

“Hopefully, some 12-year-old who batts oh-50 gets the game-winning hit.”

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As the French Open tennis tournament enters its second week of play, it’s a good chance to remind people that just because you can’t play the French Open, doesn’t mean you have to quit playing altogether.

There were a number of local athletes who recently competed in the National Senior Category 2 tournament at Berkeley Tennis Club two weeks ago.

Scott Howard, an El Camino graduate, won the Men’s 55 doubles title. His high school teammate, John Soto, finished second in the Men’s 60 doubles final, falling to Gunn graduate Jeff Jacklich and his partner.

John Saviano, another Gunn product, won the straight Men’s 60 singles title, adding the Berkeley crown, adding to the USTA Men’s 60 Indoor title in Boise, Idaho.

Other Peninsula players who participated in the tournament include: Woodside graduate Todd Waibel, who is also an advertising account executive with the San Mateo Daily Journal; Ralph Saviano (Gunn), Frank Apecechea (San Mateo) and Mark Strem (Aragon).

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.