There were cheers and tears in abundance Saturday in South Williamsport, Pa., when the first round of elimination games reduced the field in this year’s Little League World Series tournament from 16 to 12 teams. The four elimination games pitted teams that lost their opening game either on Thursday or Friday.
Chula Vista’s Park View Little League was among the eight teams that staved off elimination and remained alive in the double elimination tournament after defeating Southwest Region champion McAllister Park American Little League from San Antonio, Tex., 5-0, in Saturday’s elimination round.
Other elimination-round survivors included New England in the U.S. bracket and Mexico and the Caribbean among the international teams.
Park View (19-3) is now 8-0 when facing elimination this summer.
“It goes back to having faith in all 14 boys we have on the team,” Park View manager Jorge Camarillo explained in a post-game press conference. “It’s a matter of game-planning. Some times you get a hunch. When you make moves and they make you you look like geniuses because they come up big. They do all the work. All the credit goes to them.
“They made the adjustments. We talk about baseball being a game of adjustments. They trusted themselves and slowed the game down a little, got good results.”
Saturday’s winners advance to Monday’s second round of elimination games in which four more teams will be axed from the tournament to further reduce the field to eight teams – four in each of the United States and International divisions.
Park View will face the loser of Sunday’s Mid-Atlantic-Southeast game in Monday’s elimination round (5 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN).
Saturday’s losing teams are guaranteed a third game in the Little League World Series tournament when the four 0-2 teams from both divisions pair up in consolation games on Monday and Tuesday. Two teams will get the experience of tasting victory in the LLWS tournament while two teams will head home with 0-3 records.
Even for teams that do not taste success at this year’s LLWS, it remains a great experience – a once-in-a-lifetime experience, to be exact.
Just win, baby
Park View lost 5-1 to Midwest Region champion Johnston Little League from Iowa in Friday’s LLWS opener to drop to Saturday’s elimination round while McAllister Park American Little League suffered an 11-1 setback to Great Lakes Region champion Bowling Green Eastern Little League from Bowling Green, Ky., also in Friday’s opening round.
Park View got back in the win column braced by another brilliant pitching performance by Victor Lizarraga, who fired a two-hitter at the San Antonio team while striking out nine batters.
Park View made the most of its four hits, including a two-run home run by Daniel Leon, to slip past the Texas team, which gifted the West Region champions with three runs on pitching errors in front of 16.072 fans at Lamade Stadium.
Park View went right for the jugular by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Ali Camarillo tripled to right field off Southwest starter Dominic Tellis. After Wallis struck out Anthony Soto Jr. for the first out, Wallis hit Park View’s next batter, Lucas Marrujo, to place two runners on base.
Camarillo scored and Marrujo took second base on a passed ball. Marrujo advanced to third base on a fly ball to right field by Lizarraga and then scored on a wild pitch.
Lizarraga, who coaxed 13 strikeouts in the West Region championship game against Nevada, struck out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the first inning. He walked the next batter but Park View quickly turned a double play to end the inning.
Leon doubled to lead off the top of the second inning and advanced to third base on a groundout by Ju Ju Padilla. J.B. Bruce was then hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Luis Guevara then entered the game as a special pinch runner for Bruce.
Tellis got Jonluke Hobdy looking at strikes for the second out of the inning. But a passed ball allowed Leon to score and Guevara to advance to second base.
The inning continued when Camarillo singled, advancing Guevara to third base. But Soto lined out to center field to end the inning.
Lizarraga mowed down the Texas team in the bottom of the second inning on a pop-up, groundout and strikeout to preserve Park View’s 3-0 lead.
The West Region champions tacked on two more runs to their lead in the top of the third inning. Tellis hit Marrujo to lead off the inning. Marrujo advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then moved to third base on a groundout by Lizarraga. Devin Hinojosa then hit Park View’s first home run of this year’s Little League World Series – and the team’s 62nd this summer – to left field to score two runs.
5-0 Park View.
Brody Ticer broke up Lizarraga’s no-hit bid with a single to right field to lead off the bottom of the third inning. The Park View pitcher struck out Caden Wallis for the first out but hit the next batter, Ben Colton, to put runners on first and second bases.
Lizarraga struck out his counterpart on the mound – Tellis – for the second out of the inning and got the third out on a fly ball to center field.
Lizarraga set down the side on three groundouts in Southwest’s half of the fourth inning to keep Park View in solid position to win the game, needing only six more outs to accomplish that.
Tellis shut out Park View in the top of the fifth inning on a foul tip, groundout and strikeout to prevent the Southern California champions from widening their lead.
Perhaps sensing a victory, Lizarraga struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning to greatly enhance his team’s chances of advancing in the tournament. In the process, the Park View hurlder upped his strikeout to seven in the game.
Down to its final three outs, McAllister Park Little League refused to go down easily as Gibson Maldonado greeted Lizarraga with a double. Tellis lined out to third base for the first out. Lizarraga then struck out Britton Moore for the second out.
Rilan Quinones then struck out on a foul tip to end the game.
Lizarraga’s complete game totals included nine strikeouts, two hits and one walk. He threw 82 pitches – 72 percent of them strikes.
Tellis, who pitched five innings, took the loss. He allowed four hits and three earned runs. Tellis and Quinones, who pitched one inning in relief, combined to strike out nine Park View batters.
The pitching duel kept the base paths fairly empty as the teams left just four runners each on base. Neither team committed an error.
Camarillo led Park View with two hits.
It was apparent early on that Lizarraga had both his fastball and curve ball working.
“I just feel so confident when my coaches have the faith in me, have faith in me in big games, especially in elimination games,” Lizarraga said. “I just keep working.”
“We really don’t want to go home so early,” Ali Camarillo explained. “This tournament is the biggest of all the tournaments we played in. We’re just not that team that folds over after a loss. We keep fighting.”
It will make much of the same attitude if Park View wants to advance in the tournament.
Sole survivors
In Saturday’s first elimination game, Mexico defeated Europe-Africa by a score of 12-7 after taking an early 4-0 lead. Gael Isaac Cortez blasted a pair of home runs, including one that hit the scoreboard, to power the Mexican offense.
Cortez, along with teammates Jose Angel Leal and Milton Gonzalez combined to strike out eight batters in the opening five innings before Italy mounted a late rally that ultimately fell short.
Cortez, who received credit for the win, collected three RBI and scored two runs while teammate Fabian Alejandro Mar also drove in three runs. Leal, who had two RBI at the plate, allowed just two hits and struck out five in his two-plus innings on the hill.
Mexico will play the loser of Sunday’s game between Canada and Asia-Pacific in Monday’s elimination round.
The team from Emilia, Italy, hurt its own cause by committing three errors that led to five unearned runs for Mexico (which made six errors of its own).
Samuele Gamberini went three-for-three for Italy with singles in the first, fourth and sixth innings.
New England Region champion Rhode Island was the second team to advance to Monday’s elimination round after defeating Northwest Region champion Bend (Ore.) North Little League by a score of 8-0.
Kenny Rix’s three-run home run highlighted a four-run fourth inning for the team from Warwick, R.I., allowing the New England champs to expand on a narrow 2-0 lead. Chase Pariseau slammed two doubles for Rhode Island while teammate Domenic Brazeau also hit a double.
Winning pitcher Colin Lemieux scattered three hits, struck out three batters, walked none and allowed no runs during his four innings on the hill. He recorded 40 strikes on 52 pitches. He also drove in two runs on two hits in the batter’s box.
New England will face the lose of Sunday’s Great Lakes-Midwest game in Monday’s elimination round.
Japan and the Caribbean met in the third elimination game. For the Japanese it was unfamiliar territory after losing its first opening round game in the tournament since 1965 when it bowed, 10-4, to Canada on Friday. It was even more unfamiliar territory after dropping a 2-1 decision to suffer elimination from the tournament.
Japan had won four of the last six LLWS championship titles.
Caribbean champion Pariba Little League from Curacao made the most of its three hits in Saturday’s game in overing a 1-0 Japanese lead. Donovan Antonia homered in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game. Nair Hamanika drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning to plate teammate Egory Manuela.
So Hirao gave Japan a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.
Jadon Gosepa pitched the first five innings to pick up the win for the Caribbean. He scattered four hits and struck out seven batters. Gedionne Marlin picked up the save by throwing 14 pitches in the final inning, striking out one batter.
The Caribbean will face the loser of Sunday’s game pitting Australia and Latin America in Monday’s elimination game.
Consolation games
Bend North Little League will meet Emilia, Italy, on Monday at 8 a.m. Pacific time on ESPN.
Japan will face Texas in Tuesday’s consolation game at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time on ESPN.
Social media
To follow Park View in the Little League World Series:
https://twitter.com/ParkviewLL/status/765044289080430592
https://twitter.com/parkviewll
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pvll/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/parkviewlittleleague/
https://www.facebook.com/Park-View-Little-League-Official-Page-124269384291971/
http://www.parkviewlittleleague.com/
Viewing parties
Official West spirit gear available at Park View Little League viewing parties:
•Oggi’s Pizza in Otay Ranch (2130 Birch Rd., Chula Vista)
•Rancho del Rey Middle School (1174 E. J St, Chula Vista)
•Salucita Bar & Grill (4110 Bonita Road)
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)
Asia-Pacific vs. Latin America, 2 p.m. PT (ESPN)
Mid-Atlantic vs. Great Lakes, 4:30 p.m. PT (ESPN)
Elimination games
United States Division
Southeast vs. Midwest, 4:30 p.m. PT (ESPN)
International Division
Mexico vs. Australia, 10 a.m. PT (ESPN)
Little League World Series Opening Round
Midwest champs push across late runs to end Park View’s 11-game winning streak, post 5-1 win in Little League World Series opener
In a game between seemingly evenly matched teams in Friday’s Little League World Series opening round contest at Lamade Stadium, Midwest Region champion Johnston Little League from suburban Des Moines, Iowa, ended Park View Little League’s 11-game winning streak by posting a 5-1 victory in front of 12,171 fans.
The teams battled through three-and-half innings with the score tied 1-1 before the Iowans broke through with a pair of runs without the benefit of a base hit in the bottom of the fourth inning to score the decisive runs of the game. The Midwest champions tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for good measure.
If Park View (18-3) is to advance in the tournament, it will be through the single-elimination challenger bracket. The West champions can take solace is that they are 7-0 in elimination games this summer, including the West Region championship game.
Park View manager Jorge Camarillo accepted blame for the team’s disappointing performance
“We didn’t prepare the kids enough – they didn’t look prepared,” the Park View manager explained in a post-game press conference. “(But) we’re still alive – it’s not over yet.
“We had a plan coming in; the plan is still in place. We aren’t panicking; it’s a double-elimination tournament. We have to make some adjustments (for our next game). We have to be ready to go.”
Fast start, slow finish
Park View opened Friday’s game with a baserunner in its first at-bat as lead-off hitter Ali Camarillo was hit by a pitch. However. Midwest starter Jack Emanuel struck out the next batter, Lucas Marrujo, and then retired Victor Lizarraga on a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning. Adriel Colmenero then grounded out for the final out of the inning.
Daniel Leon took the mound for Park View in the bottom of the first inning. Johnston also placed its lead-off batter on base via a walk. But a strikeout and double play closed out the threat.
Park View broke through in the top of the first inning for the first run of the game after loading the bases with none out. Leon (single), Anthony Soto Jr. (single) and Omar Cordero (walk) each reached safely. Ju Ju Padilla scored one run on a sacrifice fly to right field. Camarillo subsequently drew a walk but a pair of infield outs ended further damage on the scoreboard.
Leon struck out Emanuel to lead off the bottom of the second inning but Cade Godwin followed with a base hit to right field and Owen Dawson, the ensuing batter, reached base after being hit by a pitch to place two runners on base for the Midwest team.
But Leon struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam and preserve the 1-0 Park View lead.
Park View could not add to its lead after going down in order in the top of the third inning. Leon retired the first two Johnston batters he faced in the bottom of the frame before J.T. Garcia singled to right field.
Michael Siemer then doubled to the wall in left center to score Garcia and tie the score 1-1. But Leon struck out the next batter – giving him six in the game — to strand the potential go-ahead runner at second base.
It was ditto for Park View in the next frame. Soto led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field off relief pitcher Josh Larson. After a strikeout for the first out, Padilla grounded out for the second out of the inning. Larson then struck out Santi Garcia for the final out of the inning with the team still tied 1-1.
The game did not remain deadlocked for long, however. Kaiden Dinh opened the bottom of the fourth inning for Midwest with a single and Payton Newhouse followed with another single to place two runners on base with none out. But Leon got the next batter on strikes to record the first out of the inning.
However, Leon didn’t do his cause any good after hitting the next batter, Sam Hennes, to load the bases. Johnston Little League appeared to have its biggest inning in the making at this point and took advantage of it on an untimely error.
Godwin hit into what appeasred to be a potential double play but a drop at first base allowed two runs to score to put the Iowa team ahead 3-1.
Park View quickly countered when Camarillo led off the top of the fifth inning with a double and advanced to third base on a passed ball. But Larson stymied the Park View rally by inducing a fly-out to right field and two strikeouts. Jake Pemble threw a strike from right field to prevent Camarillo from tagging up to score on a sacrifice fly.
Leon remained on the mound and served up a lead-off home run to center field by Garcia to start the bottom of the fifth inning. Emanuel, who was no longer on the mound but remained in the game, singled with one out. Godwin took over as a special pinch runner and advanced to second base on a wild pitch.
Dinh grounded out but Godwin advanced to third base on the play. Godwin then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-1 in the favor of the Midwest champs. Dawson then drew a walk to replenish the base paths for the designated home team.
Leon exited the mound at this point and Adriel Colmenero took over pitching duties, getting the final out of the inning on a ground-out.
Down to its final three outs of the game, Park View mounted a late challenge.
Jonluke Hobdy led off the top of the sixth inning with a walk. Siemer relieved Larson on the mound. Soto extended the count to 3-2 before flying out for the first out. Omar Cordero then fouled out for the second out of the inning, leaving any late dramatics to occur with one out left in the game.
Padilla did add some drama by taking a pitch into the body to reach first base and push Hobdy to second base.
But Siemer struck out Luis Guevara for the final out of the game.
Johnston Little League finished the game with seven hits.
The three Iowa pitchers held Park View to four hits and struck out seven batters. A bugaboo for the West champs: six runners left on base.
Emmanuel pitched the first three innings, leaving after 43 pitches. He allowed one run on two hits, struck out one batter and walked two.
Larson, who picked up the win, pitched two innings, allowed two hits and struck out four batters while walking one.
Siemer came in to get the save by striking out two batters in his one inning of work.
Leon, who took the loss, pitched four-and-two-thirds innings, allowed all seven hits, five runs, four of them earned, struck out seven batters and walked one.
Next up for Park View is an elimination game Saturday against the loser of Friday’s opening round game between the Great Lakes and Southwest regional champions.
The loser of that game will close out play in this year’s LLWS with a consolation game Tuesday against an international opponent while the winner will advance to another elimination game on Monday.
Johnston Little League advances to Sunday’s winners bracket game against the Great Lakes-Southwest winner.
Extra bases
Victor Lizarraga pitched lights out in the West Region championship game, tossing a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts. But Park View threw a curve in starting Leon, the team’s other No. 1 pitcher, in the LLWS opening game.
The Park View manager said the choice of the starting pitcher for his team was a moot point because his team did not generate much offense at the plate. “The Midwest has good pitching,” the elder Camarillo said. “They have good off-speed pitching. We struggled today.”
It was Iowa’s first opening round win in the Little League World Series since 1975.
The Midwest manager said his team fired on all cylinders in Friday’s game. “We just wanted to come here and compete and play our best,” he explained. “Today the ball rolled our way. The kids did their job.”
The Iowa team, which exhibited strong fundamentals play in the win over Park View, has dedicated its LLWS run to Garcia’s mother Jen, who is fighting pancreatic cancer and was in attendance at Friday’s game to watch her son hit a home run.
She was being interviewed in the stands live on ESPN when her son hit the home run to center field to put Iowa up 4-1. It was a goose-bumps moment for viewers and Garcia’s mother alike.
Park View will have to start a new winning streak if it is to advance in tournament play.
“This isn’t a position we’d like to be in,” the Park View manager admitted. “You always like to be in the winners bracket.”
First-time jitters?
The Park View manager called the team’s opening game at the LLWS “a humbling experience.”
The team from the Midwest came ready to play and had a game plan against our offense that they executed very well, the elder Camarillo explained. “The West boys seemed anxious to make a difference on offense but never adjusted to the game plan the Midwest threw at them.”
The Park View manager said from here on it is back to navigating familiar waters, however dangerous they may be.
“Saturday the boys begin a mission that they are familiar with —win or go home against Texas,” the Park View manager explained. “The boys will be prepared to play and look to earn another game here at the LLWS. We have a lot of support back home and here in Williamsport. The boys are looking forward to making a lot of people proud Saturday.”
Winners circle
Devin Obee rapped out three hits, including a fourth inning home run, and struck out seven batters while scattering three hits to lead Great Lakes Region champion Bowling Green Western/Eastern Little League to an 11-1 opening-round victory against Southwest Region champion McAllister Park American Little League in Friday’s quadruple-header nightcap.
Obee allowed one run and two walks and five innings to pick up the win.
Great Lakes opened an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and tacked on two more runs in the top of the second inning to lead 5-1. Great Lakes put the game out of reach by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning to record the 10-run rule victory.
Spencer Newman scored three runs for the Kentucky team and drove in one run while teammates John Guthrie and Tate Hanks each scored two runs.
Dominic Tellis made it a 3-1 game with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
However, Southwest compounded its chances of winning the game by committing eight errors.
In other opening round game on Friday:
Canada 10, Japan 4
Loreto Siniscalachi hit a home run, scored two runs and struck out 13 batters to lead the Canadians to the upset win. Canada opened up a 6-0 lead. Cristian Santarelli also hit a home ruin while Nathan Clegg doubled in a pair of runs as Canada out-hit Japan 10 to 6.
Asia-Pacific 3, Caribbean 0
Minho Choi went two-for-two and Junho Jeong struck out 10 batters to lead South Korea’s fortunes. Sangheon Park closed out game with the final six outs to record the save. Asia-Pacific scored twice in the first inning and never relinquished the lead.
Park struck out five batters in his two innings of work to give South Korea 15 strikeouts in the game.
Jungtaek Ru had one hit and scored one run while teammates Seum Kwon and Jaekeyon Kim also scored runs for Asia-Pacific.
