It’s that time of the year again … the time when youth baseball rules the local headlines.
California District 42 Little League’s annual Tournament of Champions is slated to get under way on Thursday, June 14, and will run one week through the following Thursday, June 21.
Championships will be contested in four divisions: 6U, 8U, Minors and Majors.
All championship games will be played at Imperial Beach Little League.
Chula Vista American, Eastlake, Luckie Waller, Park View, South Bay, Southwest and Sweetwater Valley will participate in the seven-team 6U TOC tournament.
Pool-round games, which will conclude on Monday, June 18, will take place at Southwest, Sweetwater Valley and Eastlake Little League fields. The semifinals are scheduled Tuesday, June 19, at 5 p.m. and Wednesday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
The championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, also in Imperial Beach.
Chula Vista American, Chula Vista National, Eastlake, Imperial Beach, Luckie Waller, Park View, South Bay, Southwest and Sweetwater Valley will participate in the nine-team 8U TOC tournament.
Pool-round games, which stretch through Monday, are scheduled at South Bay, Southwest, Eastlake and Sweetwater Valley Little League fields. Semifinals are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
The championship game is scheduled Thursday at 5 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
All nine district leagues will field teams in the Minors and Majors TOC tournaments.
The Minors TOC tournament will feature pool-round games through Monday at South Bay, Southwest, Sweetwater Valley and Eastlake Little League fields. Semifinals are scheduled Tuesday at 5 p.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
The championship game is scheduled Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at IBLL.
The Majors TOC tournament features nine teams but will cover less ground, starting on Friday and ending Saturday with pool games and commencing with semifinals on Monday at Sweetwater Valley and Eastlake Little League fields.
The championship game is scheduled Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
Last year’s District 42 TOC champions included Sweetwater Valley in the 6U division and Eastlake in the 8U, Minors and Majors divisions.
For schedules and updates, visit the District 42 website at www.eteamz.com/cad42/.
District all-stars
The annual District 42 all-star tournaments are scheduled to start the last week in June.
The 10U, 11U and 12U divisions are pegged June 30 through July 8. Finals in all three divisions are scheduled to take place at Sweetwater Valley Little League.
District champions advance to the California Section 7 tournament beginning July 14.
The District 42 Junior Division tournament starts June 27, followed by the Section 7 tournament on July 7.
The district’s Intermediate Division tournament is scheduled June 22. Sectionals start June 30.
District 42 administrator Ernie Lucero feels upcoming district play will be especially competitive this year.
“This year will be exciting because we believe we have a great chance at advancing to the divisional championship,” he noted. “This year is really a toss-up between several of our leagues. There is no doubt that our own district tournament will be the toughest to advance to sectional, divisional and, hopefully, to San Bernardino in the United States.”
Championship rewind
Eastlake Little League swept District 42 tournament titles in the 10U, 11U and 12U age divisions last year while Luckie Waller Little League reigned supreme in the Intermediate Division. Park View Little League won the Junior Division championship.
All three Eastlake all-star teams went on to capture Section 7 championships. Eastlake’s 11U all-stars won the Division III state championship while Eastlake’s 10U and 12U teams both finished runner-up in the Division III tournaments.
Every year is different, of course, but it will be interesting to see just what Eastlake Little League rolls out this summer for an encore.
Eastlake Little League President Marc Robertson is obviously proud of the league’s past accomplishments. But he also keeps an eye on the future.
“Our main goal in each age group is to represent Eastlake Little League with sportsmanship on and off the field,” Robertson explained. “Fifty children from ages 10-13 will be representing a league of more than 500 children. The last few years, District 42 has had some great baseball players. Each league creates its own challenge for each of our teams.
“After last year’s successes, many of the other leagues are looking forward to beating our teams. Over the next few weeks, our managers and coaches will be challenging the players to be ready for some really great baseball. Winning District 42 is always our goal. I can’t wait to watch how our kids will perform.”
That same sentiment goes for players, fans, parents, coaches and administrators throughout the district.
Play ball!
California District 42 Little League
Tournament of Champions
6U Division
Thursday, June 14
Park View 12, Eastlake 2
Luckie Waller 13, South Bay 11
Chula Vista American 12, Southwest Little League 2
Saturday, June 16
Southwest 10, South Bay 8
Chula Vista American 12, Park View 11
Sweetwater Valley 11, Eastlake
Monday, June 18
Sweetwater Valley 12, Luckie Waller 9
Tuesday, June 19
Semifinal playoff game: Sweetwater Valley 7, Park View 4
Wednesday, June 20
Semifinal playoff game: Chula Vista American 11, Southwest 4
Thursday, June 21
Championship game: Chula Vista American 14, Sweetwater Valley 8
8U Division
Thursday, June 14
Imperial Beach 13, Chula Vista National 3
Friday, June 15
Park View 13, Luckie Waller 0
Sweetwater Valley 15, Southwest 0
Saturday, June 16
Eastlake 15, Chula Vista American 5
Sunday, June 17
South Bay 16, Southwest 15
Sweetwater Valley 20, Luckie Waller 1
Eastlake 20, Chula Vista National 0
Park View 17, Imperial Beach 0
Monday, June 18
Chula Vista American 14, South Bay 1
Tuesday, June 19
Semifinal playoff game: Sweetwater Valley 6, Eastlake 4
Wednesday, June 20
Semifinal playoff game: Park View 14, Chula Vista American 11
Thursday, June 21
Championship game: Sweetwater Valley 11, Park View 9
Minors Division
Thursday, June 14
Eastlake 12, Imperial Beach 2
Friday, June 15
Park View 12, Luckie Waller 1
Sweetwater Valley 19, South Bay 4
Saturday, June 16
Chula Vista National 13, Southwest 3
Sunday, June 17
Sweetwater Valley 15, Chula Vista American 7
Southwest at Eastlake Little League, no report
South Bay 15, Luckie Waller 5
Park View 10, Imperial Beach 0
Monday, June 18
Chula Vista American 12, Chula Vista National
Tuesday, June 19
Semifinal playoff game: Sweetwater Valley 5, Eastlake 3
Wednesday, June 20
Semifinal playoff game: Park View 3, Chula Vista American 2
Thursday, June 21
Championship game: Sweetwater Valley 7, Park View 3
Majors Division
Friday, June 15
Chula Vista American 10, Southwest 0
Saturday, June 16
Eastlake 12, Chula Vista National 2
Sweetwater Valley 8, Luckie Waller 7
Park View 6, South Bay 1
Imperial Beach 7, Chula Vista American 4
Monday, June 18
Semifinal playoff game: Sweetwater Valley 13, Imperial Beach 8
Semifinal playoff game: Eastlake 5, Park View 0
Tuesday, June 19
Championship game: Eastlake Braves 12, Sweetwater Valley 1
