Manteca resident Zach White played a key role in Lamorinda Baseball Club’s run to the under-11 Travelball Select National Championship title last week at the East Cobb Baseball Complex in Marietta, Ga.

The Knights, based out of Walnut Creek, took the long, grueling road to last Sunday’s final round matchup with the Dallas Tigers, whom they beat 6-2 for the prestigious crown. It was Lamorinda’s fourth game of the day and 12th in five days.

Lamorinda entered the tournament ranked No. 2 nationally and began pool play with a 3-1 record. Tournament play did not start as planned, as the Knights were knocked off by Spartans Pro of Tampa, Fla, 8-3. That was the Knights’ only game on Friday. It turns out they needed the rest.

Lamorinda battled its way out of the consolation bracket, earning landslide victories over the Dullin Dodgers (10-1) and Home Plate (10-0), and another win over the SBA Canes (7-4).

The Knights edged out Cory Lidle 9-7 to stay in the hunt early on Sunday. That was before blasting the Madison Marlins 10-0 and avenging their previous loss to Spartans Pro, 9-0.

White was hardly just a spectator through it all. The incoming seventh grader at McParland School batted .636 for the tournament and closed out three of the team’s wins in relief. White previously played for Northgate Little League and Club All-Star of Stockton.