The Park View Little League 12U all-star team has shown a penchant for dramatic come-from-behind victories during its winding journey to the Little League World Series. Park View accepted that challenge once again in Tuesday’s elimination game against Southeast region champion Goodlettsville Baseball Little League from Goodlettsville, Tenn.
The West Region champions entered Tuesday’s game at Lamade Stadium with an 8-0 record when facing elimination.
This time, Park View’s magic ran out – and so did its stay at this year’s tournament after the Tennessee team recorded a 4-2 victory in a seven-inning thriller.
Park View finished 1-2 at this year’s LLWS and 19-4 overall for the summer. That elusive 20th victory just wasn’t to be had.
“Missed opportunities — it goes back to not executing,” Park View manager Jorge Camarillo explained after the disappointing loss. “These are 12- and 13-year-old kids. It’s baseball. It happens. We had a plan; we didn’t execute. We fell short.”
Valiant effort
Goodlettsville won its opening game in the LLWS back on Thursday, defeating Northwest Region champion Bend (Ore.) North Little League by a score of 3-2. But the Tennessee team could not solve Mid-Atlantic Region champion Maine-Endwell Little League from Endwell, N.Y., in Monday’s winners bracket contest, dropping a 3-1 decision to fall within one game of elimination in what started as a 16-team tournament last Thursday.
Park View avoided elimination on Saturday by defeating Southwest Region champion McAllister Park American Little League from San Antonio, Texas, 5-0, behind a two-hitter by Victor Lizarraga.
On Tuesday, the road narrowed to Thursday’s challenger bracket final, with Park View no longer part of the caravan.
Ju Ju Padilla earned the start against Tennessee. He dispensed with Goodlettsville in the top of the first inning on a pop-up, fly-out and strikeout but allowed one run in the top of the second inning.
Padilla got two quick goundouts but John Henry Knotts reached base on catcher’s interference and Ryan Oden followed with a base hit to put two runners on base with two outs. Padilla didn’t do himself any favors when facing the next two batters.
The Park View pitcher hit Brock Duffer to load the bases and then issued a free pass to the next batter, Jon Luke Simmons, on four consecutive balls to bring home the runner from third base.
1-0 Southeast.
Park View, as seemingly has been the custom, placed runners on base throughout the contest but stranded them.
Park View put runners at the corners with two out in the bottom of the first inning as Anthony Soto Jr. and Daniel Leon singled but Southeast starter Zach McWilliams got out of the jam by striking out Lizarraga.
Park View was back playing with its fans’ hearts in the bottom of the second inning. The West Region champions received two walks and a single in the inning but a double-play cut short any ability to score a run.
Lucas Marrujo replaced Padilla on the mound to start the top of the third inning and led off the inning with a walk before striking out the next two Tennessee batters. Ethan Jackson followed with a single to left field but was out trying to advance on a fielder’s choice to second base after the lead runner had advanced to third base.
Park View tested the faith of its fans again in the bottom of the third inning.
After a pair of groundouts, Leon reached base on a dropped third strike. Lizarraga followed with a sharp single to right field to put two runners on base with two out. Leon subsequently advanced to third base on a throwing error.
But McWilliams got Padilla swinging on a third strike to put out the fire.
The Southeast pitcher then helped his own cause by dialing in an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning on a home run to center field.
2-0 Tennessee.
Park View put a runner on first base with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning when McWilliams walked J.B. Bruce. Oden then relieved McWilliams on the mound.
Jonluke Hobdy was inserted into the game as a special pinch runner for Bruce. Marrujo then homered to center field to tie the score two-all.
Marrujo managed to weather a big storm in the top of the sixth inning to set he scene for a potential walk off victory by Park View in the bottom of the frame.
Jackson doubled to lead off the inning with R.J. Moore taking over as a pinch runner. Oden singled and then took second base on the throw to put runners in scoring position at second and third bases with one out. Duffer reached first base on an infield single to load the base paths.
Marrujo struck out Simmons and then got Tanner Jones on a flyout to quash the threat.
Omar Cordero singled to right field to start off the bottom of the sixth inning against Oden and Adriel Colmenero followed with a base hit to center field to place two runners on base in what had become a familiar occurrence throughout the game for Park View.
But Oden struck out Devin Hinojosa for the first round. Luis Guevara replaced Cordero at second base as a special pinch runner. However, Guevara was erased at third base on a fielder’s choice for the second out. However, a throwing error by the third baseman allowed Colmenero to take an extra base but when Colmenero attempted to score all the way from first base, he was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Southeast players said later they thought the game was over at this point but the perfect throw from right field hit the Tennessee catcher up the third base line from home plate in a perfect position to enable the tag on Colmenero’s upper body to be applied before his foot touched the plate. The bang-bang play at the plate only took an eye-flicker but the umpire called Colmenero out, and television replays appeared to confirm the call.
The Southeast manager called the play a “miracle” for his team in the post-game press conference.
Hobdy took over for Marrujo to open the top of the seventh inning. He was promptly greeted by a home run to center field by Tyler Jones on the first pitch to put Goodlettsville Baseball Little League ahead 3-2. Hobdy, still on the mounds, then hit McWilliams. After a flyout, Jackson singled McWilliams to second base. Hobdy then walked Robert Carroll to load the bases with one out.
Duffer singled to score McWilliams but Jackson was thrown out at home plate to end the inning. But the damage had been done.
4-2 Southeast.
Park View did not give up. Camarillo led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single.
Oden struck out Soto looking. With Carroll now on the mound for Tennessee, Marrujo reached base on a fielder’s choice while Camarillo advanced to third on an error.
With the pressure on both ways, Leon worked the count to 3-1 before hitting into a game-ending double play.
While power hitting defined last year’s LLWS, lights-out pitching clearly has defined this year’s tournament. Home runs were king last year; clutch pitching has done the job this year.
Tight scores have also become the hallmark of this year’s LLWS as teams head deeper into the tournament.
It was apparent in each of Park View’s three games as the California Section 7 champions were held to 16 hits and scored eight runs. Park View was out-scored 9-8 in its three tournament games. Park View generated one run in its opening game loss to the Midwest Region champions and scored two runs in its LLWS exit against Goodlettsville.
Padilla, Marrujo and Hobdy limited Tennessee to nine hits in the seven-inning contest while combining to strike out nine banners.
Park View, which was unable to make the most of its eight hits, left eight runners on base
McWilliams allowed one run on four hits and struck out six batters while walking three in picking up a no decision. Oden, who picked up the win in relief, gave up four hits and one run in two innings while striking out three batters.
Carroll, who recorded the final two outs, picked up the save in front of the 7,119 in attendance.
The three Southeast hurlers combined to strike out nine Park View batters.
Padilla pitched the first two innings for Park View, yielding one run on one hit with one strikeout. Marrujo pitched the next four innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven batters. Hobdy pitched one inning, giving up three hits and two runs with a walk and strikeout.
Extra bases
The West and New England tie for fifth place in this year’s U.S. bracket.
Southeast advances to Wednesday’s elimination game against Midwest. The winner will take on the loser of Wednesday’s semifinal between Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic for the right to advance to the U.S. championship game in Thursday’s challenger bracket final.
The Great Lakes-Mid-Atlantic winner earns a berth in Saturday’s U.S. championship game.
Both teams were making return appearances in the LLWS. Goodlettsville (located near Nashville) won the 2012 LLWS U.S. championship but fell in the final to an international opponent. Park View won the 2009 LLWS title in its first trip to South Wiliamsport, Pa.
The elder Camarillo had nothing but good things to say about his opponent.
“You always have to tip your cap to your opponent and their No. 1 (pitcher),” the Park View manager said. “They’re fundamentally sound, well coached.”
The Park View manager lauded the effort of his own team. “I told them to keep their head up,” the elder Camarillo explained. “The run we’ve been on … it’s is a dream come true, just to be here. We’re disappointed. We weren’t just happy to be here: we wanted to finish the job we started. I’m proud of them. They took us all for a ride.”
Indeed, they did.
Park View homecoming party scheduled Tuesday at league fields
The Park View Little League 12U all-star team is arriving home in Chula Vista Saturday night. A welcome home party is scheduled Tuesday, Augh. 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at tthe Park View Little League fields.
Youth Appreciation Day set Aug/ 31 for five local sports teams
The City of Chula Vista, in conjunction with the San Diego County Board of Supervisor, District 1 office, is hosting a community celebration Wednesday, August 31, to honor five local youth sports teams. These extraordinary local champions reached the national level in softball and baseball this summer.
Participating in the event are the Bonita Valley Girls Softball 10U Gold All-Stars, Bonita Valley Girls Softball 12U Gold All-Stars who won the National Championship in that age bracket, and the Bonita Valley Girls Softball 14U Gold All-Stars. Also attending are the Chula Vista South Colt All-Stars who won the Pony Colt West Zone Championship, and Park View Little League who went to the Little League World Series after winning the 2016 Western Regional Championship.
The teams, coaches and managers will be recognized during a “Girls and Boys of Summer Celebration” at Memorial Bowl, 373 Park Way, Chula Vista. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a DJ, school cheerleaders, special guests, and many well-wishers. Food trucks will be on site selling snacks and other refreshments. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs to sit on the lawn surrounding the bowl. Free parking is available in the adjacent City parking garage accessible from Third Avenue or F Street.
Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and County Supervisor Greg Cox will lead the community in congratulating the five teams. Radio station Z90 (90.3 XHTZ-FM) will host the event pre-show with music and prize raffles to entertain the crowd. Z90 is one of five radio stations operated by event sponsor SDLocal, which also operates 91X, Magic 92.5, AM 760, and 100.7 KFM-BFM.
Other sponsors of the Girls and Boys of Summer event include Cox Communications, Republic Services, and AMR.
For additional information about the Girls and Boys of Summer Celebration, please contact Adrianna Hernandez in the Chula Vista Mayor and Council office at (619) 691-5044.
Little League World Series
Qualified Teams
(Aug. 18-28/South Williamsport, Pa.)
United States Division
New England Region: Warwick North Little League (Warwick, R.I.)
Mid-Atlantic Region: Maine-Endwell Little League (Endwell, N.Y.)
Midwest Region: Johnston Little League (Johnston, Iowa)
Southeast Region: Goodlettsville Baseball Little League (Goodlettsville, Tenn.)
Great Lakes Region: Bowling Green Eastern Little League (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Southwest Region: McAllister Park American Little League (San Antonio, Texas)
Northwest Region: Bend North Little League (Bend, Ore.)
West Region: Park View Little League (Chula Vista, Calif.)
International Division
Mexico Region: San Nicolas Little League (Nuevo Leon)
Australia Region: Hills Little League (Sydney)
Asia-Pacific Region: East Seoul Little League (Seoul, South Korea)
Caribbean Region: Pariba Little League (Willemstad, Curacao)
Europe-Africa Region: Emilia Little League (Emilia, Italy)
Latin America Region: Aguadulce Cabezera Little League (Aguadulce, Panama)
Japan Region: Chofu Little League (Tokyo)
Canada Region: Hastings Community Little League (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Little League World Series Scoreboard
Aug. 18-28 in South Williamsport, Pa.
Opening Round Games
Thursday, Aug. 18
United States Division
Mid-Atlantic 7, New England 2
Southeast 3, Northwest 2
International Division
Latin America 10, Mexico 2
Australia 3, Europe-Africa 1
Friday, Aug. 19
United States Division
Midwest 5, West 1
Great Lakes 11, Southwest 1
International Division
Canada 10, Japan 4
Asia-Pacific 3, Caribbean 0
Saturday, Aug. 20
Elimination games
United States Division
New England 8, Northwest 0
West 5, Southwest 0
International Division
Mexico 12, Europe-Africa 7
Caribbean 2, Japan 1
Monday, Aug. 22
(Reschedulled from Sunday due to rain)
Winnners bracket games
United States Division
Mid-Atlantic 3, Southeast 1
Great Lakes 14, Midwest 4 (7 innings)
International Division
Latin Ameica 3, Australia 2
Asia-Pacific 10, Canada 0
Consolation game
Northwest 6, Europe-Africa 2
Tuesday, Aug. 23
(Reschedulled from Monday due to rain)
Elimination games
United States Division
Midwest 3, New England 2
Southeast 4, West 2
International Division
Mexico 7, Canada 1
Australia 2, Caribbean 1
Consolation game
Japan 6, Southwest 1
Wednesday, Aug. 24
Semifinals (winners bracket)
Latin America 3, Asia-Pacific 2
Mid-Atlantic 13, Great Lakes 10
Elimination games
United States Division
Southeast 14, Midwest, 3
International Division
Mexico 10, Australia 0
Thursday, Aug. 25
Semifinals (challenger bracket)
Asia-Pacific 7, Mexico 0
Southeast 8, Great Lakes 4
Saturday, Aug. 27
United States Championship Game
Mid-Atlantic 4, Southeast 2
International Championship Game
Asia-Pacific (South Korea) 7, Latin America (Panama) 2
Sunday, Aug. 28
LLWS Third-Place Game
Panama 3, Southeast 2
LLWS Championship Game
Mid-Atlantic 2,South Korea 1
Note: Maine-Endwell finishes season 24-0
