Could it be happening all over again? Maybe if this year’s Sweetwater Valley 12U all-star team can keep winning in the Southern California state championship tournament.
Reigning California District 42 and California Section 7 champion Sweetwater Valley defeated Section 3 champion Claremont, 6-4, in Sunday’s SoCal tourney opener to advance to Tuesday’s winners bracket semifinal game.
Sweetwater Valley was scheduled to face Section 6 champion 4S Ranch on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to Friday’s semifinal game in the 10-team double-elimination tournament.
It was close but the District 42 champions couldn’t hold onto a 3-1 lead and fell, 4-3, in eight innings in the all-San Diego County match-up.
Sweetwater Valley must now win three straight games — Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday — to advance to Sunday’s championship game at Eastvale Little League. If so, they would have to win a fourth consecutive game in the double-elimination finale.
The D42 champs took one mighty step forward with a 4-3 elimination win over Section 2 champion Encino on Wednesday. However, the season ended for the Section 7 champions following Thursday’s 8-4 loss to Section 9 champion Eastvale.
The SVLL 12s ended their all-star season with a final 9-2 record.
Batter up
Three Sweetwater Valley teams advanced to the Southern California state championship tournament, the final destination for the 10U and 11U age groups, and one step away from the Little League World Series West Region tournament.
The Sweetwater Valley 11s put their undefeated record on the line in last Saturday’s opener against Section 8 champion Vineyard but came up with a 1-0 loss.
The Section 7 champions rebounded with a 10-7 win on Sunday against Section 1 champion Goleta Valley South to advance to Monday’s elimination game.
The SVLL 11s got out of a bases-loaded jam with none out to prevail, 15-14, over Section 3 champion Upland Foothill to remain alive in the tournament, now needing five wins to claim a state title.
The drive to the state title fell short after Wednesday’s 11-0 shutout loss to Section 5 champion Golden Hill.
The SVLL 11s ended their all-star season with a final 9-2 record.
Little Stars
SVLL’s 10U team failed to advance in the state tournament following losses to Section 6 champion San Carlos (13-3, first game last Saturday) and Section 4 champion Torrance (12-8, third game on Monday). The District 42 champions defeated Section 1 champion Goleta Valley South by a score of 8-6 on Sunday to even its tournament record at 1-1.
Sweetwater Valley ended its all-star run with a final 8-3 record — 4-0 in district play, 3-1 in section play and 1-2 in state playoff action.
Teams qualified for the SoCal tournament through the California Section 7 championships.
The section field in the 10U divisoin included four teams — champions from District 22 (Calexico), District 41 (Fletcher Hills), District 42 (Sweetwater Valley) and District 66 (Valley de Oro).
Fletcher Hills played five games in the section tournament. The District 41 champions dropped their opening game, 9-7, to Sweetwater Valley before storming back with three consecutive wins to force a double-elimination game.
Fletcher Hills defeated Valley de Oro, 11-1, and Calexico, 10-4, to draw a rematch with the District 42 champions, defeating Sweetwater Valley by a score of 10-3 to remain in contention for the section championship and a potential trip to the state tournament.
But Sweetwater Valley reversed the score, winning 10-3, to finish as tournament champions.
Sweetwater Valley defeated Calexico, 2-1, in its second tournament game.
The Southern California state tournament was an eventful ending to the season for the three participating Sweetwater Valley teams, all of which picked up at least one win.
“What an amazing run we had!” SVLL president Joseph Griffin underscored. “All three teams represented Sweetwater Valley, District 42 and Section 7 well. Our 12U team’s run came to an end, but it wasn’t without a great fight. Davyd Mendoza hit a three-run home run to tie the game in the top of the third inning, but we weren’t able to take the lead for the remainder of the game.
“Ultimately, I’m proud of all of the boys that competed this postseason. We teach them to play with good sportsmanship and to always hold their heads up high regardless of the outcome of the game. I would like to thank the managers and coaches for the countless hours dedicated to these teams, as well as the parents, families and friends who created the loudest and best cheering sections for our boys. The future is bright for Sweetwater Valley Little League.”
While the season may have ended prematurely, everyone will take away cherished memories from this summer’s youth baseball odyssey.
Little League Scoreboard
California Section 7
Championship Tournament
10U Division
Saturday, July 13
Sweetwater Valley 9, Fletcher Hills 7
Calexico 5, Valley de Oro 2
Sunday, July 14
Sweetwater Valley 2, Calexico 1
Fletcher Hills 11, Valley do Oro 1
Monday, July 15
Fletcher Hills 10, Calexico 4
Tuesday, July 16
Fletcher Hills 10, Sweetwater Valley 3
Wednesday, July 17
Championship game
Sweetwater Valley 10, Fletcher Hills 3
Teams: Sweetwater Valley (District 42), Fletcher Hills (District 41), Valley de Oro (District 66), Calexico (District 22)
11U Division
Saturday, July 13
Alpine American 2, Yuma (Ariz.) 1
Sweetwater Valley 7, Lemon Grove 6
Sunday, July 14
Sweetwater Valley 16, Alpine American 2
Lemon Grove 4, Yuma (Ariz.) 4
Monday, July 15
Alpine American 10, Lemon Grove 9
Tuesday, July 16
Championship game
Sweetwater Valley 13, Alpine American 3
Teams: Sweetwater Valley (District 42), Alpine American (District 41), Lemon Grove (District 66), Yuma (District 22)
12U Division
Saturday, July 13
Lakeside National 12, Las Palmas 6
Sweetwater Valley 12, Brawley 0
Sunday, July 14
Sweetwater Valley 1, Lakeside National 0
Las Palmas 7, Brawley 6
Monday, July 15
Las Palmas 6, Lakeside National 5
Tuesday, July 16
Championship game
Sweetwater Valley 27, Las Palmas 2
Teams: Sweetwater Valley (District 42), Las Palmas (District 66), Lakeside National (District 41), Brawley (District 22)
INTERMEDIATE 50/70 DIVISION
Champion: Santee National
JUNIOR DIVISION
Champion: El Centro
SENIOR DIVISION
Champion: Lemon Grove/Spring Valley
Southern California Championship Tournament
10U Division
Saturday, July 20
San Carlos 13, Sweetwater Valley 3
Sunday, July 21
Sweetwater Valley 8, Goleta Valley South 6
Monday, July 22
Torrance 12, Sweetwater Valley 8
1IU Division
Saturday, July 20
Vineyard 1, Sweetwater Valley 0
Sunday, July 21
Sweetwater Valley 10, Goleta Valley South 7
Monday, July 22
Sweetwater Valley 15, Upland Foothills 14
Wednesday, July 24
Golden Hill 11, Sweetwater Valley 0
12U Division
Sunday, July 21
Sweetwater Valley 6, Claremont 4
Tuesday, July 23
4S Ranch 4, Sweetwater Valley 3 (8 innings)
Wednesday, July 24
Sweetwater Valley 4, Encino 3
Thursday, July 25
Eastvale 8, Sweetwater Valley 4
