Sometimes youth has its advantages. Just take Chula Vista South’s Colt Division all-star team as an example.
The team, primarily comprised of last year’s Chula Vista South Pony-13 World Series championship squad, elected to by-pass the Pony-14 level this season and compete — for the sake of better competition — at the Colt Division level.
The Colt Division encompasses the 15- and 16-year-old age group. The Chula Vista South team is thus giving up two years of experience (not to mention mental and physical maturity) to its opponents each time it takes the field.
Through two all-star tournaments, however, the results have favored the CV South team.
Manager Valentin Luna’s squad defeated Inland Empire Anchor, 6-0, in Monday’s Southern California Super Region championship game to earn a berth in the upcoming West Zone tournament in San Jose. The West Zone finals are the jumping off point for the Colt Division World Series scheduled Aug. 5-10 in Lafayette, Ind.
With an 8-0 all-star record, Chula Vista South is one step away from making a statement — as well as making history. Can they do it?
The team has started a Go Fund Me page to help with travel expenses. In its first eight days, the team had raised $1,031. The goal is $10,000.
The page is located at www.gofundme.com/sandiego-CVS-Colt.
Though the team is centered in Chula Vista, players also come from National City and as far away as Escondido. The team is embracing all of San Diego County in its quest to win both a West Zone as well as a World Series championship.
The Go Fund Me page paints the picture.
Chula Vista South is a non-profit organization with limited resources but a strong commitment to providing recreational opportunities to youths.
“Many of our players come from lower- to middle-class households, where travel and lodging will strain many household budgets,” league administrators explain on the Internet page. “To help defray some of the expenses associated with this effort, we are soliciting donations from the public at-large.
“We have 14 boys along with their families going to San Jose and then to Indiana beginning July 28th. So any funds raised for food, lodging, and transportation will make this run for the World Series title an experience for these kids.”
Batter up!
Chula Vista South, after winning the Southwest Region title, opened the SoCal Super Region tournament on July 21 in Riverside with a 13-0 victory against Upland Green. The win advanced the San Diego County representative to last Saturday’s second-round game against Sierra Madre.
Chula Vista South defeated Sierra Madre by a score of 6-2.
“That game was tough, but we pulled it off,” CVS manger Valentin Luna explained. “We only had nine guys and came through with some clutch hitting in the fifth and sixth innings to win.”
The win pushed Chula Vista South to the winners bracket final against IE Anchor, which had dispatched Inland Empire Marlin and Jurupa by respective scores of 12-9 and 9-1.
CV South defeated IE Anchor, 6-3, to earn a berth in Monday’s division championship game.
Emilio Luna pitched a complete game with a double and a walk, scoring twice. Eric Nakano, Adrian Vallejo and Antonio Garcia also provided timely hitting in the game.
As the sole remaining undefeated team in the tournament, Chula Vista South was poised to move on to the West Zone tournament with a win in Monday’s title contest. The San Diego team drew IE Anchor in a rematch after the Inland Empire team defeated Upland Green, 4-1, in the challenger bracket final.
Chula Vista South won by a shutout decision.
“They were a very good hitting team but they couldn’t put the hits together, so they started pressing for runs,” the elder Luna said.
Jesus (Bubba) Villegas threw out a runner at home while attempting to score from second base on a hit to left field; Emilio Luna, playing shortstop, relayed a throw from left field to throw out a second runner at home plate on a double.
Antonio Garcia threw a complete game shutout to give CVS the victory.
CV South opens zone play Saturday against Santa Cruz Red, with the winner playing either Los Gatos Grey or the host San Jose PAL team on Sunday. The championship game is scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 2.
“Our Colt team has done an amazing job,” noted Chula Vista South Pony President Omar Castro. “They are 14- and 15-year olds going up against 15- and 16-year-olds. I actually tried to get them to play 14U all stars but they said they wanted to challenge themselves.
“I believe they executed that challenge and more by winning regionals and super regionals. I believe the credit goes to manager Valentin Luna for keeping most of the World Series kids together and bringing in kids to fill in; he is a great coach who deserves all the credit. Our 13U all-stars came up short in super regionals but we are still proud of them for making it as far as they did.”
CHULA VISTA SOUTH
COLT DIVISION/ALL-STAR ROSTER
Players: Keoni Cavaco, Emilio Luna, Dante Schmid, Rafael Iribez, Adrian Vallejo, Peyton Berroth, Brodie Romero, Antonio Garcia, Eric Nakano, Bubba Villegas, Ben Hart, Garrett Taylor, Cesar Rodriguez Jr., Dimaggio Cazarres, Fisher Pyatt
Manager: Valentin Luna
Coaches: Brad Nakano, Daniel Nakano
Colt Division
West Zone Tournament
July 30 to Aug. 2 in San Jose
First Round
Saturday, July 30
Santa Clara 10, Upland Grey 2
Los Gatos Legends 9, North Seattle (Wash.) Rainiers 2
Chula Vista South 2, Santa Cruz Red 0
Los Gatos Grey 10, San Jose PAL 2
Winners Bracket
Sunday, July 31
Los Gatos Legends 4, Santa Clara 3
Los Gatos Grey 6, Chula Vista South 2
Elimination Games
Sunday, July 31
North Seattle (Wash.) Rainiers 7, Upland Grey 1
Santa Cruz Red 11, San Jose PAL 0
Monday, Aug. 1
Chula Vista South 2, Santa Cruz Red, 0
Santa Clara 12, North Seattle (Wash.) Rainiers 2
Semifinals
Monday, Aug. 1
Los Gatos Legends 1, Santa Clara 0
Chula Vista South 15, Los Gatos Grey 0
Tuesday, Aug. 2
Chula Vista South 8, Los Gatos Grey 5 (double-elimination game)
Championship
Tuesday, Aug. 2
Chula Vista South 3, Los Gatos Legends 2
