California District 42 Little League’s annual Tournament of Champions crowned its Major Division champion last Saturday at the Chula Vista American Little League complex and it couldn’t have come in more dramatic fashion.
The Chula Vista American Yankees, battling down to the last strike, scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to top the Imperial Beach Rockies, 3-2, to capture the championship banner.
“I’m just really happy for us today,” Yankees manager Eric Miranda said following the June 15 game. “It was our third come-from-behind win in the tournament. What I like about these kids is their poise. They keep finding a way to win.”
Rockies relief pitcher Caden Williams was one strike away from helping his team claim a hard-fought 2-1 decision until Yankee Armando Ibarra beat out an infield single to tie the game.
With emotions suddenly stirred up on both sides, Reece Madden capped the Yankees’ dramatic two-run rally by promptly spanking a solid base hit to left field to score the winning run from third base.
The loss was particularly painful for the Rockies, who had snapped a 1-1 tie on a bloop double by Andrew Chapman in the top of the fifth inning to score Williams.
However, Rockies starter Matthew Garrison reached the 90-pitch limit with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Garrison had been cruising along but a pair of bad-hop singles by Shane Miranda and Azyel Castro put two runners on base for his replacement.
Williams, who also scored his team’s first run in the top of the first inning, struck out the first batter he faced to send the Yankees down to their final out, and worked a two-strike count on the next batter, needing just one more strike to end the game in the Rockies’ favor.
But Ibarra’s infield smash proved too hot to handle and Miranda scored from second base with a heady display of base-running.
With runners advancing to second and third bases, that set the stage for Madden’s dramatic game-winner that scored Castro.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Rockies manager Augie Diaz summed up succinctly.
Madden started the game on the hill for the Yankees and pitched four innings with four strikeouts and no earned runs. His replacement, Castro, recorded the win thanks to the Yankees’ late rally.
Shane Miranda scored two runs in the game while Castro scored once. Dante Zambelli, Ibarra and Madden were each credited with one RBI.
Madden led the Yankees with two hits in the game.
Tournament play opened June 12 at Sweetwater Valley Little League with round-robin match-ups, followed by semifinal pairings last Friday.
The Yankees scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning with two outs to erase a three-run deficit against the Sweetwater Valley Athletics to post a 5-3 victory in last Friday’s semifinals while the Rockies blanked Southwest 3-0.
The Yankees began their fifth-inning rally with two key singles before Shane Miranda rocked a double off the wall, Castro and Zambelli followed with base hits to complete the rally.
Chase Miranda, 9, the youngest player in the district’s Major Division this season, received credit for the win after brother Shane had struck out 12 batters in the opening four innings.
The Yankees manager will now switch over to coach CVA’s 12U entry in the upcoming all-star tournament.
“I think we have some good talent and have a chance to do very well in the tournament,” Eric Miranda said.
Schedules for the district all-star tournament will be announced on June 25.
Reece Madden pitched the first four innings and later delivered the game-winning hit at the plate. Photos by Phillip Brents
Batter up
This year’s Major Division TOC format featured the division champions from all nine leagues within the district but received a tweak with teams participating in two groups leading into last Friday’s semifinals.
In games on June 12, Southwest defeated Luckie Waller, 8-2, while Imperial Beach outscored South Bay, 19-0, to start play in one group.
In games on June 13, the Chula Vista American Yankees doubled up the Park View Padres, 6-3, while the Sweetwater Valley Athletics topped the Eastlake Rays, 8-1, in the other group.
Shane Miranda went 3-for-4 with two RBI and teammate Sebastian Garcia went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Yankees while Kapono Nakanelua earned the win on the mound and Ethan Otero slammed a two-run home run for the Athletics.
The Athletics built early leads of 2-0 and 4-0 before eventually extending their lead to 8-0. The Rays spoiled the A’s shutout bid with a run in the sixth inning.
“I think it started off as we anticipated,” district administrator Ernie Lucero said. “There has been a high level of competition in the Major Division so far from teams in each league.
“It’s more competitive with two groups. It gives a chance for teams from the smaller leagues to play in the championship game against teams from the larger leagues.”
The Major Division is only the starting point. Tournament of Champions winners will also be crowned in 6U, 7U, 8U and Minor Division levels.
“Starting with the 6U, 7U and 8U divisions, it’s going to be one of the best tournaments in San Diego County,” Lucero noted.
Semifinals will be played Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23, at Sweetwater Valley Little League. Finals will be played at Imperial Beach Little League on Monday, June 24.
Junior all-stars
The Junior Division all-star tournament is scheduled June 27 to July 1 and will be hosted by Park View Little League. Participating teams include Luckie Waller, Sweetwater Valley and Park View.
Luckie Waller and Sweetwater Valley will open the double-elimination tournament with a game on June 27 at 5 p.m. The winner advances to meet Park View on June 28 at 5 p.m. while the loser drops to the challenger bracket final on June 29 at 11 a.m.
The championship game is scheduled June 30 at 11 a.m. If a double-elimination game is required, it will be played on July 1 at 5 p.m.
The Park View roster features six players from last year’s 12U all-star team that made it to the West Region tournament in San Bernardino — the last step before the Little League World Series.
Park View is celebrating its 60th anniversary this season. Park View made local history by winning the 2009 Little League World Series; the league’s 2016 team also made it to South Williamsport.
“There’s a lot of history there,” Park View Little Leauge President Johnny Fuentes said. “It’s come a long way. We’ve helped set the current tone in the district from our success back in 2009.”
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ROSTERS
Chula Vista American Yankees
Team champions
Chase Miranda, Sebastian Garcia, Shane Miranda, Azyel Castro, Dante Zambelli, Armando Ibarra, Reece Madden, Alexander Yepis, Josue Melendrez, Angel Ramirez
Imperial Beach Rockies
Team runner-up
Caden Williams, Andrew Chapman, Dimitry Diaz, Matthew Garrison, Dan Snow, Noah Esqueda, Ethan Norringhang, Julian Barrett, Max Gutierrez, Jayson Barcenas, Roger Blas, Jake Leslie
TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, June 12
Southwest 8, Luckie Waller 2
Imperial Beach 19, South Bay 0
Thursday, June 13
Chula Vista American 6, Park View 3
Sweetwater Valley 8, Eastlake 1
Imperial Beach 7, Chula Vista National 3
Friday, June 14
Chula Vista American 5, Sweetwater Valley 3
Imperial Beach 3, Southwest 0
Saturday, June 15
Chula Vista American 3, Imperial Beach 2
INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE ALL-STARS:
Tuesday, June 18: Eastlake 18, Sweetwater Valley 0
Wednesday, June 19: Chula Vista American 12, Imperial Beach 3
Thursday, June 20: Eastlake 13 Chula Vista American 2
Friday, June 21: Sweetwater Valley vs. Imperial Beach, 6:30 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League
Saturday, June 22: Chula Vista American vs. Sweetwater Valley-Imperial Beach winner, 11 a.m. at Sweetwater Valley Little League
Sunday, June 23: Championship game, 1 p.m. at Sweetwater Valley Little League
Tony Jefferson to hold free youth football camp this weekend at Eastlake High School
Starting safety Tony Jefferson of the Baltimore Ravens will host his third annual free youth football camp on Saturday, June 22, from noon to 3 p.m. at his alma mater Eastlake High School.
More than 350 local children ages 7 to 15 will learn the fundamentals of football through a fun day of drills and training.
Jefferson will lead the camp with fellow NFL colleagues, including Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City Chiefs safety) and Kenny Stills (Miami Dolphins wide receiver).
Each camp participant will receive a camp T-shirt, a swag bag, snacks provided by Clif Bar and lunch provided by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor.
The event will be held on the Eastlake High School football field.
Registration begins at 11 a.m., followed by the opening of the camp at noon. The camp concludes at 3 p.m.
For more information visit the website at www.hardcountathletics.com/tony-jefferson.
Southwestern College to host 7-on-7 high school passing tournament June 28-29
The renamed Southwestern College Passing Tournament is scheduled June 28-29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The opening Friday (June 28) will feature pool play. Morning games are scheduled at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Afternoon games are scheduled at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. T
The tournament will feature games four fields: stadium, baseball field, practice field and soccer field. Each field will have two games playing at the same time.
The championship playoffs are scheduled Saturday (June 29), with games starting at 9 a.m.
Tournament director Ken Wilmesherr said the event will include a high school team from Tijuana:Lazaro Cardenas High School.
