SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (CBS SF) – The mother of one of the Petaluma National all-stars playing for a title at the Little League World Series has made a huge sacrifice to follow her son’s team: the loss of her job at home.

Billie Ann Tomei, mother of Cole and wife of Petaluma assistant coach Trevor Tomei, had to choose between traveling with her son’s team to the West Regional tournament in San Bernardino or keeping her job as an office manager for a CPA, according a story in the Press Democrat.

The San Bernardino tournament was the prelude to the U.S. Championship round.

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Tomei had vacation time, but her boss was out of the office at the time and needed her to cover, according to the report.

“(My boss) wouldn’t let me take time off,” Tomei told the Press Democrat. “He told me, ‘If you go, write yourself your last check.’ So I wrote myself my last check.”

Petaluma National parents have had to juggle a number of issues as the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA grinds on into Day 8 of 11 on Thursday, which followed the 11-day championship tournament in Southern California.

Aside from job hassles and red-eye flights, Petaluma schools began this week, so arrangements have had to be made for siblings left behind – not to mention pets. Parents and players have been living out of suitcases for three weeks now as they continue their storybook run in the World Series.

The Petaluma Nationals play Thursday for a berth in the U.S. Championship game Saturday. The U.S. champion will play the International champion on Sunday.

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