All three of the California District 42 Little League all-star championship teams swept through their opening games in last weekend’s California Section 7 tournament to advance to Tuesday’s championship games.
The District 42 teams didn’t stop there, sweeping all three of Tuesday’s finals to advance to this weekend’s Southern California Division III championship tournament.
The newly crowned Section 7 champions include Chula Vista American Little League in the 10U division, Eastlake Little League in the 11U division and Sweetwater Valley in the 12U division.
- Chula Vista American defeated Rancho de Oro 7-6, after trailing 6-0 to post the most dramatic victory of the night.
- Eastlake topped Rancho de Oro, 9-1, in a showcase of hitting and pitching.
- Sweetwater Valley did likewise in routing Lakeside American by a lopsided score of 15-0.
All three District 42 teams return to action this weekend in search of divisional titles. In the case of the 10U and 11U age groups, the Division III tournament will serve as the state championship and mark the end of the road in summer all-star play.
The 12U winner at the Division III tournament advances to the Little League World Series West Region tournament in San Bernardino, the last leg in qualifying for the Little League World Series.
Sweetwater Valley’s 2019 all-star team continues to follow in the footpaths of the 2015 team that placed third at the Little League World Series.
“If we stay in the winners bracket at the Division III tournament, we need four more wins to make it to San Bernardino,” Sweetwater Valley manager Ward Lannom said. “It could take more wins if we don’t stay in the winners bracket.”
Sweetwater Valley has done nothing but win so far in all-star tournament play, improving to 7-0 after Tuesday’s victory against the District 41 champions.
Lakeside American, which eliminated District 66 champion Spring Valley, 7-1, in Monday’s challenger bracket final, challenged early by placing two runners in scoring position with one out in the first inning. But SVLL starter Ethan Otero induced a strikeout and groundout to retire the next two batters without allowing a run.
Sweetwater Valley managed one single in its first at-bat but poured across five runs with two out in the top of the second inning to get its dynamo in gear.
Cristian Jimenez singled to load the bases following lead-off walks to Joey Castillo and Otero. Josh Hughes then stroked a two-run double for a 2-0 lead. Daniel Sanchez followed with a three-run home run over the left centerfield fence to up the lead to 5-0.
Otero retired Lakeside American in order in the bottom of the frame.
Sweetwater Valley sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the third inning, scoring seven more runs to lead 12-0.
Andrew Arnce and Leo Mondrago both collected RBI singles while Sanchez clubbed his second home run of the game — a grand slam — over the right field fence.
Castillo, who opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch, doubled in a run in his second plate appearance in the inning.
Lakeside American loaded the bases in its half of the third inning but Otero once again got out of the jam with a timely strikeout and groundout.
The Sweetwater Valley offense roared again in the top of the fourth inning.
Arnce led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jimenez. With two out, Sanchez (seven RBI) was hit by a pitch. An error by the Lakeside American third baseman then loaded the bases.
Successive wild pitches scored two additional runs.
All that was left was for Otero to retire the side in order in the bottom of the fourth to enable the 10-run rule.
Game over.
Sweetwater Valley remained on course to the 2019 Little League World Series with the run-rule win.
The section banner was the third in four tries for Lannom as manager of the Sweetwater Valley 12U team.
“This team starts slow but by the second time around they usually figure out the pitcher,” Lannom noted. “They make adjustments. This team is able to make adjustments.
“We’re teaching this team to keep its foot on the gas pedal.”
The 2019 SVLL edition could be accelerating on the road to Williamsport. The team is batting just under .500 and has clubbed 18 home runs in seven games.
Sweetwater Valley out-scored its three opponents in the section tournament by a whopping 46-3.
Sweetwater Valley is scheduled to meet Section 6 champion Allied Gardens Saturday at 11 a.m. in its opening game at the Division III tournament hosted by North Mission Viejo Little League at Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park, 22056 Olympiad Road, Mission Viejo.
Lannom said the run-rule win sets up his pitching for the next tournament. Otero threw 55 pitches to notch the win on Tuesday.
“Everyone is available for Saturday,” the SVLL manager said.
Star power
The Eastlake 11U all-star team also took care of business in a big way in Tuesday’s championship game.
Rancho de Oro scored its lone run in the first inning. But the Eastlake offense was just getting under way by scoring nine runs on seven hits in two-and-two-thirds innings.
The newly crowned District 42 champions scored five runs in the third inning.
Hamza Hatahet had two hits, including a first inning home run, and drove in three runs while Marc Osorio and Chewy Flores both had two RBI.
Noah Cook and Josh Alo combined on a five-hitter in the pitching department. Cook started the game and allowed three hits and one run in three innings while Alo threw the final three innings in relief, allowing two hits while striking out two batters.
“We’re just really proud of what this team have achieved so far, but we still have more to accomplish,” Eastlake manager Adam Villarreal said. “Each player is ready to contribute when their number is called. My coaches George Flores and Tom Alo have been great with keeping these boys focused and ready for he road ahead.”
Eastlake advances to meet the Section 4 champion in Sunday’s Division III opener at noon at Eastvale Little League at Harada Heritage Park, 13099 65th St., Eastvale.
Comeback kids
Chula Vista American swept its three games in the section tournament but for a while it looked like the District 42 champions might have to play a double-elimination game on Wednesday.
“We were down 6-0,” CVA manager Martin Gutierrez said following Tuesday’s cliffhanger victory. “We told the kids to chip away one run at a time. We got one in the fourth and were able to tie it in the fifth inning. It was a team effort. Everyone did their part.”
CVA was backed by great pitching and defense for the entire Section 7 tournament, according to Gutierrez.
“Our two aces, Reece Madden and Jesus Davalos, both pitched seven innings with Reece having nine strikeouts and Jesus having four strikeouts and no runs allowed. Chase Miranda and Jack Daniel both pitched a combined five innings of zero runs and six strikeouts.
“The team played great defense all around, from Mario Medrano catching to Xavier Gutierrez and Jack Daniel making great plays in the infield and outfield.”
CVA used three pitchers in Tuesday’s title contest: Madden, Davalos and Miranda.
“Reece pitched a great game and Chase came in to shut it down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth inning,” Gutierrez said.
“We have a scrappy team (in producing runs). We are more of a great pitching and great defensive team.”
CVA advances to meet the Section 3 champion in Saturday’s Division III opener at 3 p.m. at Long Beach Little League’s Stearns Championship Park, 4620 E. 23rd St., Long Beach.
Batter up
In games last Saturday, Chula Vista American topped District 41 champion Rancho de Oro, 8-1, in 10U division play, while Eastlake slid past District 41 champion Rancho de Oro by a score of 3-1 in eight innings in the 11U division. Sweetwater Valley defeated Section 22 champion Imperial, 15-3, in the 12U division.
Hughes went three-for-five with two runs scored while Castillo finished three-for-four with five RBI, including a grand slam, to power Sweetwater Valley past Imperial.
Otero also hit a home run while Adrik Sanchez pitched a two-hitter.
All three District 42 teams won games on Sunday by shutouts.
Chula Vista American blanked District 66 champion Spring Valley, 2-0, in 10U division play while Eastlake’s 11U all-stars shut out District 66 champion Valley de Oro, 13-0, with a combined no-hitter. In 12U all-star play, Sweetwater Valley defeated District 66 champion Spring Valley, 16-0.
Hughes went three-for-four with three RBI while Adrik Sanchez went two-for-three with three RBI in the win over Spring Valley. Ryan Garcia went two-for-three with two RBI.
Sweetwater Valley reeled off back-to-back-to-back home runs in the top of the third inning, with Hughes, Daniel Sanchez and Adrik Sanchez each hitting dingers.
CALIFORNIA SECTION 7 CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD
10U All-Stars
Saturday, July 13
Spring Valley (District 66) 9, Calexico (District 22) 0
Chula Vista American (District 42) 8, Rancho de Oro (District 41) 1
Sunday, July 14
Chula Vista American (District 42) 2, Spring Valley (District 66) 0
Rancho de Oro (District 41) 23, Imperial (District 22) 9
Monday, July 15
Rancho de Oro (District 41) defeated Spring Valley (District 66) (elimination game)
Tuesday, July 16
Championship game: Chula Vista American (District 42) 7, Rancho de Oro 6
Note: Chula Vista American advances to Division III tournament at District 38 Little League
11U All-Stars
Saturday, July 13
Eastlake (District 42) 3, Rancho de Oro (District 41) 1 (8 innings)
Valley de Oro (District 66) 5, Imperial (District 22) 4
Sunday, July 14
Eastlake (District 42) 13, Valley de Oro (District 66) 0
Rancho de Oro (District 41) 22, Imperial (District 22) 3
Monday, July 15
Rancho de Oro (District 41) defeated Valley de Oro (District 66) (elimination game)
Tuesday, July 16
Championship game: Eastlake (District 42) 9, Rancho de Oro 1
Note: Eastlake advances to Division III tournament at District 72 Little League
12U All-Stars
Saturday, July 13
Sweetwater Valley (District 42) 15, Imperial (District 22) 3
Spring Valley (District 66) 8, Lakeside American (District 41) 3
Sunday, July 14
Sweetwater Valley (District 42) 16, Spring Valley (District 66) 0
Lakeside American (District 41) defeated Imperial (District 22), score unavailable
Monday, July 15
Lakeside American (District 41) 7, Spring Valley (District 66) 1 (elimination game)
Tuesday, July 16
Championship game: Sweetwater Valley (District 42) 15, Lakeside American 0
Note: Sweetwater Valley advances to Division III tournament at District 68 Little League
Junior Division scoreboard:
Section 7 champion Park View defeated Section 3 champion Upland, 5-3, in a challenger bracket elimination game Wednesday night at the state tournament in Anaheim to advance to Friday’s elimination game at 5:30 p.m.
Park View opened the 10-team state tournament with a 9-6 loss to Section 2 champion Santa Ana last Saturday, necessitating a run through the elimination bracket in order to challenge for the division championship.
Southern California Division III Report:
Sweetwater Valley 12U all-stars slip past Allied Gardens, 1-0, in key San Diego County test
Sweetwater Valley Little League’s 12U all-star team took one step closer on the path to the 2019 Little League World Series after winning its opening game at the Southern California Region III tournament in Mission Viejo on Saturday.
The reigning California District 42 and Section 7 champions defeated Section 6 champion Allied Gardens, 1-0, in an all-San Diego County match-up to start the 10-team double-elimination tournament.
Sweetwater Valley remains in the winners bracket while Allied Gardens drops to the challenger bracket.
Sweetwater Valley will remain in contention for the division championship until it loses two games.
Allied Gardens is one win away from elimination.
“It was a great baseball game on both sides,” Sweetwater Valley manager Ward Lannom said. “But a win is a win. I’ll take it.”
Hits were at a minimum on both sides. Sweetwater Valley pitchers Kapono Nakanelua and Andrew Arnce combined on a two-hitter. Sweetwater Valley only managed two hits.
Sweetwater Valley scored its lone run in the second inning as Dante Millan drove in Joey Castillo.
Nakanelua pitched three innings, striking out five batters. Arnce pitched three innings, striking out one batter.
Sweetwater Valley will face Section 10 champion Santa Margarita National in a winners bracket game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 8.
The winner advances to Thursday’s winners bracket semifinal at 6 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 8 against the winner of Tuesday’s winners bracket game pitting Section 5 champion Tustin Western and Section 1 champion Moorpark.
The loser of Tuesday’s Sweetwater Valley-Santa Margarita game will play Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 1 against the winner of Monday’s elimination game pitting Section 8 champion Hesperia National and Section 2 champion Sherman Oaks Southern.
The winner of Thursday’s winners bracket semifinal advances to Sunday’s championship game at 1 .m. at Youth Athletic Field 8. The winner of Wednesday’s elimination game advances to additional elimination rounds on Thursday and Saturday.
If a double-elimination game is needed to determine the Division III champion, it would be played Monday at 6 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 8.
Santa Margartia is 2-0 in the tournament so far after defeating Section 1 champion Sherman Oaks Southern, 8-1, on Saturday and Section 4 champion Manhattan Beach, 7-0, on Sunday to advance to meet Sweetwater Valley.
Overall, two of the three District 41 teams competing at the Division III level came home with wins over the weekend. Eastlake’s 11U all-stars defeated Section 4 champion Torrance, 10-5, while Chula Vista American’s 10U all-stars dropped a 14-4 decision to Claremont.
Sweetwater Valley 12U all-stars drop to elimination bracket following 4-2 loss to Santa Margarita National
California Section 7 champion Sweetwater Valley took one step backward on the road to the 2019 Little League World Series after dropping Tuesday’s winners bracket game, 4-2, to Section 10 champion Santa Margarita National in 12U all-star play at the Southern California Region III tournament in Mission Viejo.
The road to South Williamsport suddenly becomes longer with a few more bends in the path.
Tuesday’s loss dropped Sweetwater Valley to the elimination bracket, needing a win on Wednesday against Section 2 champion Sherman Oaks Southern to remain in contention for the division title.
Sweetwater Valley will need to win five elimination games to advance to the West Region tournament — one step away from the Little League World Series — while Santa Margarita National will need to win just two more games.
Sweetwater Valley will remain in contention for the division championship until it loses two games.
The Sweetwater Valley-Sherman Oaks Southern winner will face the Manhattan Beach-Tustin Western winner in an elimination game on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 8.
The winner advances to Saturday’s challenger bracket semifinal at 1 p.m. at Youth Athletic Field 8. Should Sweetwater Valley advance, it would have to defeat the team coming out of the winners bracket twice to win the division championship. Those potential games would be played Sunday and Monday.
Santa Margarita National advances to Thursday’s winners bracket semifinal game against Section 1 champion Moorpark. Santa Margartia National is 3-0 in the tournament so far after defeating Sherman Oaks Southern, 8-1, on Saturday and Section 4 champion Manhattan Beach, 7-0, on Sunday.
Five of the six runs in Tuesday’s game were scored in the first inning as Santa Margarita National took a 3-2 lead.
The Section 10 champions led 3-0 after their half of the inning before Sweetwater Valley scored twice in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run game.
Santa Margarita added an insurance run in the top of the third inning.
Santa Margarita out-hit Sweetwater Valley 8-4. Grant Degulis led the Section 10 champs with two RBI in the game.
Brady Ford pitched six innings for Santa Margarita, throwing 12 first-pitch strikes.
Arnce pitched four innings for Sweetwater Valley with eight strikeouts while Ethan Otero pitched two innings with 10 first-pitch strikes.
Batter up
All three California District 42 champions remain in contention for Division III championships. Eastlake Little League’s 11U all-star team remains in the winners bracket and will play its next game on Wednesday, with a chance to advance to the winners bracket semifinals with a victory against Section 10 champion Huntington Valley. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Eastvale Little League.
Chula Vista American’s 10U all-star team remains alive in the elimination bracket after recording back-to-back elimination game victories against Section 6 champion Allied Gardens (8-3 on Monday) and Section 5 champion Tustin Western (6-0 on Tuesday).
The pair of must-win contests advanced CV American to Thursday’s next round of elimination games at Long Beach Little League.
Should CVA keep winning, it would have to advance past another elimination round on Saturday’s to reach Sunday’s challenger bracket final. The championship game is scheduled Monday, with a potential double-elimination game to follow on Tuesday.
Schedules follow:
Southern California Division III Championship Tournament
10U All-Stars
July 20-30 at Long Beach Little League
Saturday, July 20
Claremont 14, Chula Vista American 4
Sherman Oaks defeated Newmark
Thousand Oaks defeated Eastvale
Torrance defeated Allied Gardens
Monday, July 22
Eastvale defeated Newmark (elimination game)
Chula Vista American 8, Allied Gardens 3 (elimination game)
Ocean View defeated Claremont (winners bracket)
Sherman Oaks defeated Tustin Western (winners bracket)
Tuesday, July 23
Claremont defeated Eastvale (elimination game)
Chula Vista American 6, Tustin Western 0 (elimination game)
Wednesday, July 24
Thousand Oaks vs. Ocean View, 6 p.m. (winners bracket)
Torrance vs. Sherman Oaks, 6 p.m. (winners bracket)
Thursday, July 25
Chula Vista American vs. Thousand Oaks-Ocean View loser 6 p.m. (elimination game)
Claremont vs. Torrance-Sherman Oaks loser, 6 p.m. (elimination game)
Saturday, July 27
Semifinal game (winners bracket), 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 28
Semifinal game (challenger bracket), 3 p.m.
Monday, July 29
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30
Double-elimination game (if needed), 6 p.m.
11U All-Stars
July 20-29 at Eastvale Little League
Saturday, July 20
Goleta Valley (Section 1) 13, Upland Foothill (Section 3) 3
Huntington Valley (Section 10) 16, Golden Hill (Section 5) 1
Sunday, July 21
Citrus (Section 8) 5, Orangecrest (Section 9) 3
Eastlake (Section 7) 10, Torrance (Section 4) 5
Huntington Valley (Section 10) 16, Northridge (Section 2) 5
San Carlos (Section 6) 3, Goleta Valley (Section 1) 2
Monday, July 22
Orangecrest (Section 9) 3, Golden Hill (Section 5) 1 (elimination game)
Upland Foothill (Section 3) 6, Torrance (Section 4) 2 (elimination game)
Tuesday, July 23
Northridge (Section 2) vs. Upland Foothill (Section 3), 5 p.m. (elimination game)
Goleta Valley (Section 1) vs. Orangecrest (Section 9), 7:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Wednesday, July 24
Citrus (Section 8) vs. San Carlos (Section 6), 5 p.m. (winners bracket)
Eastlake (Section 7) vs. Huntington Valley (Section 10), 7:30 p.m. (winners bracket)
Thursday, July 25
Elimination games at 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 26
Elimination game at 5 p.m.
Semifinal game (winners bracket): Citrus-San Carlos winner vs. Eastlake-Huntington Valley winner at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 27
Semifinal game (challenger bracket), 11 a.m.
Sunday, July 28
Championship game at 1 p.m.
Monday, July 29
Double-elimination game (If needed) at 6:30 p.m.
12U All-Stars
July 20-29 at Mission Viejo Little League
Saturday, July 20
Tustin Western (Section 5) 6, Temecula (Section 9) 1
Sweetwater Valley (Section 7) 1, Allied Gardens (Section 6) 0
Santa Margarita National (Section 10) 8, Sherman Oaks Southern (Section 2) 1
Moorpark (Section 1) 8, Claremont American (Section 3) 3
Sunday, July 21
Santa Margarita National (Section 10) 7, Manhattan Beach (Section 4) 0 (winners bracket)
Tustin Western (Section 5) 6, Hesperia National (Section 8) 2 (winners bracket)
Sherman Oaks Southern (Section 2) 10, Claremont American (Section 3) 6 (elimination game)
Allied Gardens (Section 6) 4, Temecula (Section 9) 1 (elimination game)
Monday, July 22
Manhattan Beach (Section 4) 5, Allied Gardens (Section 6) 1 (elimination game)
Sherman Oaks Southern (Section 2) 15, Hesperia National (Section 8) 0 (elimination game)
Tuesday, July 23
Tustin Western (Section 5) vs. Moorpark (Section 1) 9, Tustin Western (Section 5) 6 (winners bracket)
Santa Margarita National (Section 10) 4, Sweetwater Valley (Section 7) 2 (winners bracket)
Wednesday, July 24
Sweetwater Valley (Section 7) 6, Sherman Oaks Southern (Section 2) 4 (elimination game)
Manhattan Beach (Section 4) 6, Tustin Western (Section 5) 5 (elimination game)
Thursday, July 25
Semifinal game (winners bracket): Moorpark winner vs. Santa Margarita National, 6 p.m.
Sweetwater Valley (Section 7) vs. Manhattan Beach (Section 4), 5:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Saturday, July 27
Semifinal game (challenger bracket), 1 p.m.
Sunday, July 28
Championship game, 1 p.m.
Monday, July 29
Double-elimination game (if needed), 6 p.m.
American Legion San Diego District 22 Playoffs
All games at Mission Bay High School
(Top two teams advance to state tournament)
Thursday, July 18
La Jolla Vikings (Post 275) 3, Patrick Henry Trojans (Squad 460) 2
West Hills Tomcats (Post 364) 14, Hoover Panthers (Post 731) 0
Patrick Henry Trojans 3, Hoover Panthers 0 (elimination game)
Friday, July 19
Winners bracket semifinal: West Hills Tomcats 4, La Jolla Vikings 3
Challenger bracket semifinal: Patrick Henry Trojans 14, La Jolla Vikings 0
Saturday, July 20
Patrick Henry Trojans 4, West Hills Tomcats 3
Double-elimination game: Patrick Henry Trojans 3, West Hills Tomcats 2
Final District 22 records:
Patrick Henry 14-3
West Hills 11-4
