Neither thunder nor rain could stop Chula Vista American Little League’s 11U all-star team from capturing Saturday’s California Section 7 championship title. Nor could CV American’s championship opponent — the Rancho San Diego Dawgs.
CV American overcame a pair of early four-run deficits to prevail 11-6 in a game played under gray skies, light rain and an ongoing series of rolling thunderclaps and occasional lightning flashes that highlighted the dramatic ending of the game.
“We were down 4-0 and 6-2 but we shut them out the rest of the way,” CV American manager Javier Aguirre explained. “We had a couple of home runs to get us back in the game. These guys rallied. They don’t get down on themselves. They have confidence that they can come back because they’ve been down before and come back to win.”
The section championship is the second consecutive for District 42 champion CV American, which next advances to Friday’s Southern California-South Sub-Division III tournament being hosted by Newmark Little League in San Bernardino.
CV American’s 10U all-stars advanced as far as the sub-division tournament last year. This year’s CVA 11U all-star team is largely comprised of last year’s 10U squad.
Aguirre said the game plan is to represent the league and the district as best as possible.
“We played some tough teams last year,” Aguirre noted. “We want to go in there and do better than we did last year. I think last year we left a little (on the field). It was our first time advancing that far and a lot of the kids didn’t know what to expect. We’re a good hitting team and our pitching seems better than last year. Hopefully, we’ll do well.”
Rancho San Diego did well early on in Saturday’s championship game. Riding the momentum of Friday’s 17-5 challenger bracket final victory against District 66 champion Valley de Oro, the Dawgs took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and led, 6-2, through three innings.
Ethan Heider slammed a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to allow RSD to regain its four-run cushion.
But that cushion promptly evaporated as CVA piled up four runs in each of the next two frames to jump in front 10-6. CVA tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning to complete its run of nine unanswered runs to claim the section title.
Devin Hinojosa, CVA’s ace pitcher, was roughed up a bit early in the game but persevered on the mound into the bottom of the fifth inning. He pitched four-and-two-thirds innings, allowed six runs and struck out five batters to pick up the win.
Aaron DeCasas got the final four outs in relief, striking out three batters.
Christian Levya (fourth inning) and Kellen Ince (fifth inning) each cracked three-run homers to score the bulk of CVA’s runs.
The CVA 11U squad is primarily comprised of players from the league’s Major Division, plus a few 10-year-olds, according the league president LeRoy Donaldson. He remains proud of the team’s accomplishment.
“It’s hard work,” Donaldson explained. “It’s all left on the field.”
District 42 administrator Ernie Lucero was present to hand the section banner to the victors. He said the district’s leagues began to build momentum following Park View Little League’s history-making run to the 2009 Little League World Series championship title.
“In my mind, the Park View team from 2009 set the example,” Lucero explained. “They got the other leagues in our district to believe they can win at this level. The 2009 Park View team really set the tone. They showed that any of the leagues in our district could do it, too.”
So far, District 42 teams have made it a sweep — two-for-two — in Section 7 championship games this year. On Friday, Sweetwater Valley’s monstrous 12U all-star team defeated Rancho SD, 18-7, at Fletcher Hills Little League to win its second consecutive section banner.
On Monday, Sweetwater Valley’s 10U all-star team will have a chance to make it a clean sweep when it plays for the division championship at Spring Valley Little League.
Rancho San Diego , which won five consecutive games, including two games against Santana National, to win the District 41 title, opened the section tournament with a 15-5 mercy-rule victory against Valley de Oro. But Chula Vista American dropped the Dawgs to the challenger bracket following a 19-4 winners bracket decision on Thursday. RSD battled back to eliminate Valley de Oro to get a second crack at CV American in the championship game.
RSD finished the section tournament 2-2.
Dawgs manager Eric Scribner emphasized it was a team effort from the beginning for his squad.
“It took the whole team,” Scribner explained. “We had to use subs for pitching, a lot of hitting and heart from the boys. They had no-giving-up on their minds. We just came up short against a good-hitting team (in the section championship game).”
Chula Vista American finished the section tournament 3-0 after winning the district title with a double-elimination championship game victory against rival Park View.
Sweetwater Valley’s 12U team remains undefeated in all-star play at 7-0, with all seven games decided by the 10-run mercy rule in four innings.
“It will be interesting to see how these teams do at the next level,” Lucero noted.
Sub-division update:
Chula Vista American wins 8-0 on Friday agaisnt Section 10 champion Aliso Viejo and adds a 6-2 victory on Saturday in another winners bracket contest against Newmark to advance to Monday’s championship game at Newmark Little League (7 p.m. start).
Southern California-South Sub-Division III Tournament
11U Division
Newmark Little League, San Bernardino
Thursday, July 23
Aliso Viejo (Section 10) 5, Encinitas (Section 6) 3
Reid Park (Section 9) vs. Newmark (Section 8), no report
Friday, July 24
Chula Vista American (Section 7) 8, Aliso Viejo (Section 10) 0
Saturday, July 25
Encinitas (Section 6) 14, Aliso Viejo (Section 10) 8
Chula Vista American (Section 7) 6, Newmark (Section 8) 2
CALIFORNIA SECTION 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chula Vista American 11U all-stars advance to Saturday’s Section 7 championship game
Chula Vista American stayed in the winners bracket following a 19-4 victory over Rancho San Diego on Thursday to advance to Saturday’s championship game.
Chula Vista American scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning on five hits, including a two-run home run by Kyle Chapman to get on the scoreboard first.
Rancho San Diego scored one run in the top of the second inning, but Chula Vista American responded by scoring five more runs in the bottom of the frame on six hits, including a double by Devin Hinojosa and a three-run home run by Bret Leonhardt, to surge ahead 11-1.
When Chula Vista American changed pitchers in top of the third inning, Rancho San Diego capitalized on the situation by scoring three runs. But Chula Vista American came back in the bottom of the thdrd inning to score eight runs, including a grand slam by Christian Leyva, to jump to a 19-4 lead.
Leonhardt entered the game in relief in the top of the fourth inning and shut out RSD’s offense to end the game.
Hinojosa started the game for Chula Vista American. He pitched two innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run while posting three strikeouts.
Chula Vista American’s offense combined for 10 singles, two doubles and three home runs.?CV American’s three pitchers allowed three earned runs, gave up four hits and four walks and posted four strikeouts in four innings.
CV American advances to Saturday’s championship game (10 a.m. start) against the winner of Friday’s challenger bracket final between Rancho SD and Valley de Oro.
Valley de Oro eliminated Calexico, 15-5, in Thursday’s challenger bracket game.
District 42 champions sweep California Section 7 openers
All three newly-minted California District 42 Little League champions won their opening games in the California Section 7 tournament that started earlier this week.
In fact, Sweetwater Valley’s 12U team did even better by winning its opening two games to advance to Friday’s section championship game.
Chula Vista American’s 11U all-star team defeated District 22 champion Calexico, 13-5, in Wednesday’s section opener at the CV American LL complex, joining District 41 champion Rancho San Diego in Thursday’s winners bracket final after RSD run-ruled District 66 champion Valley de Oro 15-5.
Sweetwater Valley’s 12U all-stars opened section play with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over District 66 champion Lemon Grove Tuesday at West Hills Little League and continued their hot streak by defeating District 41 champion Rancho San Diego, 20-5, in Wednesday’s winners bracket final at Fletcher Hills Little League.
SVLL slammed six home runs in the opening inning to lead 10-0 in Wednesday’s winners bracket encounter.
Meanwhile, Sweetwater Valley’s 10U all-stars topped District 66 champion Valley de Oro, 14-7, in Tuesday’s section opener at Spring Valley Little League to advance to Friday’s winners bracket final against District 41 champion Cajon de Oro.
Highlight reel
Kyle Chapman’s two-run home run in the first inning boosted CV American to an early 2-0 lead over Calexico. CVA went up 7-3 on the strength of a five-run third inning and tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning to zoom in front 11-3. The teams then traded two runs each in the two innings.
CV American sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning, trying the game on a bases-loaded walk to Aaron DeCasas, scoring two runs on wild pitches, another on a double steal and one run on a RBI-single by Christian Lizarraga.
Bret Leonhardt and DeCasas each were credited with two-run RBI singles in the fifth inning uprising while Kellin Ince and Leonhardt each picked up RBI singles in the sixth inning.
DeCasas, the second of five CVA pitchers in the game, picked up the win.
“We had a lot of base hits and aggressive base running,” CVA manager Javier Aguirre explained. “I think because of our aggressive base running that we put pressure on their pitcher and defense.”
Sweetwater Valley’s 12U all-stars — er, wrecking crew — continued to pound opponents with the long ball.
Antonio Andrade hit two homers in the first inning alone, including the first on the first pitch of the game, and added another homer in the third inning for three for the night. Dante Schmid hit a grand slam homer in the first inning and capped the SVLL scoring parade with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Ari Armas, Preston Fleming and Levi Mendez also hit solo home runs in the first inning run explosion.
Braiz Ramirez and Jake Baptista also contributed to the SVLL scoring parade with two-run triples.
Sweetwater Valley hit eight home runs in the game and now has hit 31 home runs in six games while out-scoring its opponents 109-6. The District 42 champions have only allowed 10 hits in six games. Andrade and Mendez each pitched two innings on Wednesday. They gave up a combined three hits.
All six games have ended after four innings due to the mercy rule.
“The rally monkey, Stars & Stripes, continues to work,” SVLL manager Ward Lannom said.
Rancho SD’s win in the 11U section opener also featured standout hitting. Paolo Medina hit a grand slam home run in the first inning to help power the Dawgs to an early 5-0 advanrtage while Wyatt Laub hit a walk-off two-run shot to end the game by virtue of the 10-run mercy rule.
Laub started the game, with Ethan Heider earning the win in relief. Weston Clark scored three runs for RSD in the blowout win.
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 42 LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Park View’s 11U all-stars force double-elimination district championship game
Chula Vista American and Park View were the last two teams left standing in this year’s California District 42 Little League 11U all-star tournament. The teams met three times in the four-team double-elimination tournament, with CV American winning the final and most important match-up, 9-8, on Sunday to advance to this week’s California Section 7 championship tournament.
“It was draining emotionally with all these three games,” CVA manager Javier Aguirre explained. “You didn’t know what to expect. It was great that we came back to win this final game. I have to say that Park View was a great opponent.”
All three games between the teams proved to be epic struggles – each decided by one run.
In previous encounters, Park View used a walk-off three-run home run by Ben Wood to defeat Park View, 9-8, in a winners bracket game on July 6. Park View staved off elimination in last Saturday’s championship game with an 11-10 victory in seven innings to force Sunday’s double-elimination game.
Sunday’s double-elimination game was the most nerve-racking of the three for the eventual district champions after Park View took a 7-0 lead after just two innings.
“We came back slowly and then we went ahead, 8-7, but couldn’t hold it,” Aguirre said. “They tied it, 8-8, on a home run.”
CV American captured the district banner in dramatic fashion as Kyle Chapman hit the winning home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wood, who came in relief, pitched the final four innings to pick up the win.
“Ben kept us in the game,” Aguirre said. “They were all hard-fought games. All the games went back and forth, every game.”
The District 42 champions start Section 7 play Wednesday with a home game against District 22 champion Calexico at 5:30 p.m. at the CV American Little League complex at Hilltop Middle School.The section tournament wraps up with the championship game on Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m. at CVALL.
If a double-elimination championship game is needed, it would be played Sunday, July 19, at 11 a.m. at the same site.
Come what may, Chula Vista American Little League president LeRoy Donaldson acknowledged the hard work and dedication all the players and coaches have put forth to advance this far.
“These players know that they have a uphill battle as they face different Little League teams from Southern California,” Donaldson said. “However, they are ready for these challenges.”
Chula Vista American had a chance to wrap up this year’s district championship on Saturday, needing just one more victory, while Park View needed two wins to secure the section championship.
Park View came prepared for the long haul, leading until CV American tied the game. “We came back with a grand slam but we couldn’t hold it, and they won it in the seventh inning,” Aquirre said.
Park View scored three runs in the first inning and four runs in the second inning to start off with a 7-0 lead. Wood came into the game in relief in the third inning and held Park View’s offense to one run the rest of the way.
Chula Vista American scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run by Christian Leyva and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring six runs to lead 8-7. Highlights included a bases-clearing triple by Carlo Salvatierra for three runs.
Park View responded in the top of the fifth inning by tying the game 8-8 with a solo home run, but Chula Vista American responded in the bottom of the fifth with Kyle Chapman’s homer totake back the lead at 9-8.
Wood got the last three outs of the game in the sixth inning by allowing only one more Park View batter to reach first base.
Chula Vista American won last year’s 10U district championship and also went on to capture the Section7 title. The team advanced as far as the Southern California-South Sub-Division III championship tournament.
Aguirre felt the move up to the 11U would be equally successful.
“It’s the same group of kids we had last year,” the CVA manager said. “They’re a good hitting team and we have better pitching this year.”
California District 42 Little League All-Star tournaments
12U Division
Thursday, July 2
Sweetwater Valley 27, Chula Vista American 0 Chula Vista American Little League
Park View 16, Chula Vista National 0 at Eastlake Little League
Friday, July 3
Luckie Waller 7, Eastlake 5 at Eastlake Little League
Imperial Beach 10, Southwest 2 at Imperial Beach Little League
Monday, July 6
Sweetwater Valley 19, Park View 1 at Chula Vista American Little League
Imperial Beach 7, Luckie Waller 5 at Imperial Beach Little League, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
Southwest 4, Eastlake 3 at Imperial Beach Little League
Chula Vista American 12, Chula Vista National 1 at Chula Vista American Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Challenger bracket game at Chula Vista American Little League, Chula Vista American 5, Luckie Waller 3
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Park View 14,. Southwest, 1
Thursday, July 9
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Park View 8, Chula Vista American 7
Winner bracket final at Imperial Beach Little League, Sweetwater Valley 18, Imperial Beach 0
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Park View 14, Imperial Beach 1
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Sweetwater Valley 14, Park View 0
11U Division
Friday, July 3
Chula Vista American 12, Sweetwater Valley 2 at Chula Vista American Little League
Park View 15, Eastlake 10 at Eastlake Little League
Monday, July 6
Chula Vista American 9, Park View 8 at Chula Vista Ameican Little League
Wednesday, July 7
Sweetwater Valley 8, Eastlake 7 at Chula Vista American Little League (completion of suspended game from Tuesday)
Thursday, July 9
Challenger bracket final at Imperial Beach Little Leauge, Park View 4, Sweetwater Valley 3
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Park View 11, Chula Vista American 10
Sunday, July 12
Championship game
Chula Vista American 9, Park View 8
10U Division
Thursday, July 2
Eastlake 18, Park View 2 at Eastlake Little League
Sweetwater Valley 14, Chula Vista American 8 at Chula Vista American Little League
Friday, July 3
Southwest 14, Chula Vista National 6 at Chula Vista American Little League
Imperial Beach 15, Luckie Waller 0 at Imperial Beach Little League, 6 p.m.
Monday, July 5
Sweetwater Valley 6, Eastlake 0 at Imperial Beach Little League, 5 p.m.
Imperial Beach 8, Luckie Waller 3 at Imperial Beach Little League, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
Chula Vista National 5, Luckie Waller 4 at Imperial Beach Little League
Park View 10, Chula Vista American 1 at Imperial Beach Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Challenger bracket game at Chula Vista American Little League, Southwest 8, Park View, 5
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Eastlake 15, Chula Vista National 0
Thursday, July 9
Winners bracket final at Imperial Beach Little League, Imperial Beach 6, Sweetwater Valley 3 (7 innings)
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Eastlake 16, Southwest 6
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater ValleyLittle League, Sweetwater Valley 7, Eastlake 2
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Sweetwater Valley 11, Imperial Beach 1
Sunday, July 12
Championship game
Sweetwater Valley 15, Imperial Beach 8
Junior Division
Championship series
Monday, July 6
Eastlake 3, Luckie Waller 2 at Eastlake Little League
Tuesday, July 7
Luckie Waller 6, Eastlake 5 at Eastlake Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Championship game: Eastlake 6, Luckie Waller 3 at Eastlake Little League
Senior Division
Championship series
Monday, June 22
Southwest 7, Luckie Waller 4
Wednesday, June 24
Luckie Waller 9, Southwest 6
Thursday, June 25
Southwest 7, Luckie Waller 0
Note: Southwest wins District 42 championship, advances to the Section 7 tournament on Saturday, June 27, at noon at Spring Valley Little League.
California District 42 Little League
All-Star Tournament Champions
10U: Sweetwater Valley
11U: Chula Vista American
12U: Sweetwater Valley
Junior: Eastlake
California District 41 Little League
All-Star Tournament Champions
10U: Cajon De Oro
11U: Rancho San Diego
12U:Rancho San Diego
Junior Division: Rancho San Diego
California District 66 champions
Big League: Spring Valley Little League
Senior Division: Spring Valley Little League
Intermediate Division: Las Palmas Little League
Junior Division: Twin Hills Little League
12U: Lemon Grove
11U: Valley de Oro Little League
10U: Valley de Oro Little League
