Stars & Stripes, the Sweetwater Valley Little League 12U all-star team’s plush monkey mascot, will be right where’s its been the last three games come Saturday’s California District 42 championship game at the SVLL complex: sitting in the team’s dugout.
“It’s good luck,” SVLL all-star player Walker Lannom piped up after Thursday’s 18-0 victory over a previously undefeated Imperial Beach team at the Imperial Beach Little League complex.
Thus far, Sweetwater Valley hasn’t needed much luck. Efficient pitching and efficient hitting have carried the team to a 3-0 start in District 42 championship tournament play. After Thursday’s latest runaway victory, Sweetwater Valley has outscored its opponents 65-1 in three games and out-hit its opponents 58-2.
All three Sweetwater Valley games have ended with mercy-rule victories after four innings.
Levi Mendez and Walker combined on a one-hit shutout on Thursday, with each pitcher going two innings. Mendez struck out the first four batters he faced while Walker also racked up four strikeouts in recording six outs.
The SVLL hitting parade included six home runs, including a grand slam home run in the third inning by Ari Armas. Sweetwater Valley has now hit 19 home runs in three games by eight different players.
Sweetwater Valley wasted little time in pouncing on Imperial Beach pitching in Thursday’s winners bracket final. Antonio Andrade hit the second pitch of the game for a home run and Mendez followed by placing the next pitch over the outfield fence.
Sweetwater Valley had a 2-0 lead on just three pitches.
A base hit, putout and subsequent home run by Jacob Baptista put Sweetwater Valley up 4-0 after one inning.
There was no let-up from there with 14 more runs chalked up in the next three frames.
“We got out real quick,” SVLL manager Ward Lannom explained. “We led off with a home run, the second game we’ve had that. We had two players with multiple home runs and seven home runs by five players.”
Andrade hit his second home run in the second inning to make it 5-0 SVLL.
Sweetwater Valley scored 13 more runs in the next two innings, including 11 runs in the third inning to balloon its lead to 16-0.
Sweetwater Valley relied on “small ball” to score most of its runs in the third inning, including a bases-loaded walk to make the score 12-0 before Armas hit his grand slam with two outs in the frame.
Mendez hit a monstrous blast over the right field fence to account for Sweetwater Valley’s final two runs.
Sweetwater Valley batters hit the ball hard even when it didn’t clear the fence, twice knocking down Imperial Beach players who attempted to flag down sharply-hit grounders.
Walker Lannom closed out the game by throwing untamed heat; his arm motion was a blur as he released high velocity pitches to the plate.
With Thursday’s win, Sweetwater Valley advanced to Saturday morning’s district championship game to face the winner of Friday’s challenger bracket final between Imperial Beach and Park View. Park View eliminated Imperial Beach, 14-1, in Friday’s game to draw a championship match-up against SVLL.
The District 42 championship game is scheduled at 11 a.m.
Chula Vista American will meet Park View in the district 11U championship game at 10:30 a.m.
Imperial Beach earned a berth in Saturday’s district 10U championship game at 10 a.m. after topping Sweetwater Valley, 6-3, in a seven-inning thriller on Thursday. Imperial Beach drew a championship rematch against Sweetwater Valley after SVLL eliminated Eastlake, 7-2, in Friday’s challenger bracket final.
Park View eliminated Sweetwater Valley, 4-3, in Thursday’s 11U challenger bracket final.
Chula Vista American is undefeated in 11U all-star play with victories over Sweetwater Valley (12-2 on July 3) and Park View (9-8 on July 6) while Park View is 2-1. Park View opened tournament play with a 15-10 win over Eastlake on July 3.
Imperial Beach is undefeated (3-0) in 10U all-star play.
Double-elimination play includes championship games. Should any of the undefeated teams drop contests on Saturday, a double-elimination game will take place on Sunday at the SVLL complex at the same originally scheduled times.
Sweetwater Valley Little League is located at 3321 Conduit Road in Bonita.
California District 42 Championship Games
Saturday, July 11
12U: Sweetwater Valley 14, Park View 0
Sweetwater Valley finishes district play 4-0, having outscored its four opponents 79-1. The D42 champs now advance to the Section 7 tournament being hosted by District 41 in East County. Sweetwater Valley’s first game is Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. at West Hills Little League against the District 66 champion. The section championship game is scheduled July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Fletcher Hills Little League.
Sunday, July 12
11U: Chula Vista American 9, Park View 8
10U: Sweetwater Valley 15, Imperial Beach 8
Bombs away again for Sweetwater Valley 12U Little League
Antonio Andrade led off the game with a first pitch home run. Levi Mendez followed by hitting the second pitch to him (third pitch of the game) over the fence for another home run.
Before the first frame was finished, Sweetwater Valley held an 11-0 lead.
The District 42 champions cracked four home runs in the game to increase their total to 22 home runs in four games.
In the championship game, Mendez went 3-for-3 with a home run, Walker Lannom went 3-for-3 with a home run while Preston Fleming hit a grand slam home run.
The game ended after four innings with another SVLL mercy-rule victory.
As good as the hitting was, the pitching was even better as Dante Schmid and Andrade combined for a no-hit shutout.
Schmid threw the opening three innings while Andrade closed out the game out by throwing the fourth inning.
Four-game totals: 79-1 run-differential, 22 home runs by nine different players, 69 hits, five hits allowed, one run allowed in only playing 16 innings of baseball.
“Winning district feels great, as this was our first goal,” SVLL manager Ward Lannom said. “I am very happy for the players as this team has something special.
“The numbers above are great, but the caliber of play just increased. The next goal is to get the Section 7 championship. Let’s hope our offense stays as productive at the next level as it was during district. One game at a time, next stop West Hills.”
Park View, Sweetwater Valley force double-elimination games
Park View edged Chula Vista American, 11-10, in Saturday’s scheduled 11U championship game to force a double-elimination game between the teams on Sunday. Both teams now have one loss in tournament play. The winner of Sunday’s game wins the district championship and advances to Section 7 play.
Sweetwater Valley blasted Imperial Beach, 11-1, in Saturday’s scheduled 10U championship game to force a double-elimination game between the teams on Sunday. Both teams now have one loss in tournament play. The winner of Sunday’s game wins the district championship and advances to Section 7 play.
Section 7 tournaments for 10U, 11U divisions on tap
Chula Vista American advances to the Section 7 tournament, which is being hosted by District 42 Little League at the CVALL complex at Hilltop Middle School. Chula Vista American’s first game is Wednesday, July 15, 5:30 p.m.
Sweetwater Valley advances to the Section 7 tournament, which is being hosted by California District 66 Little League. Sweetwater Valley’s first game is scheduled Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. at Spring Valley Little League.
Could Chula Vista American be gearing up for another championship run?
Chula Vista American and Park View were the last two teams left standing in this year’s California District 42 Little League 11U all-star tournament play. The teams met three times in the four-team double-elimination tournament, with CV American winning the final and most important match-up, 9-8, on Sunday to advance to this week’s California Section 7 championship tournament.
“It was draining emotionally with all these three games,” CVA manager Javier Aguirre explained. “You didn’t know what to expect. It was great that we came back to win this final game. I have to say that they (Park View) was a great opponent.”
All three games between the teams proved to be epic struggles.
In previous encounters, Park View used a walk-off three-run home run by Ben Wood to defeat Park View, 9-8, in a winners bracket game on July 6. Park View staved off elimination in last Saturday’s championship game with an 11-10 victory in seven innings to force Sunday’s double-elimination game.
Sunday’s double-elimination game was the most nerve-racking of the three for the eventual district champions after Park View took a 7-0 lead after just two innings.
“We came back slowly and then we went ahead, 8-7, but couldn’t hold it,” Aguirre said. “They tied it, 8-8, on a home run.”
CV American captured the district banner in dramatic fashion as Kyle Chapman hit the winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Wood, who came in relief, pitched the final four innings to pick up the win.
“Ben kept us in the game,” Aquirre said. “They were all hard-fought games. All the games went back and forth, every game.”
The District 42 champions started Section 7 play Wednesday with a home game Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the CV American Little League complex at Hilltop Middle School.
Come what may, Chula Vista American Little League president LeRoy Donaldson acknowledged the hard work and dedication all the players and coaches have put forth to advance this far.
“These players know that they have a uphill battle as they face different Little League teams from Southern California,” Donaldson said. “However, they are ready for these challenges.”
Chula Vista American had a chance to wrap up this year’s district championship on Saturday, needing just one more victory, while Park View needed two wins to advance to the section tournament.
Park View came prepared for the long haul, leading until CV American tied the game. “We came back with a grand slam but we couldn’t hold it, and they won it in the seventh inning,” Aquirre said.
Chula Vista American won last year’s 10U district championship and also went on to capture the Section y title. The team advanced as far as the Southern California-South Sub-Division III championship tournament.
Aguirre felt the move up to the 11U would be equally successful.
“It’s the same group of kids we had last year,” the CVA manager said. “They’re a good hitting team and we have better pitching this year.”
Eastlake captures District 42 Junior League championship banner
Eastlake reversed a 3-1 deficit to defeat Luckie Waller, 6-3, on Wednesday to capture this year’s District 42 Junior League championship banner and advance to Section 7 tournament play this weekend in Imperial Valley.
“We always tell the kids to keep pounding the rock and amazing things will happen,” Eastlake manager Adam Villarreal explained. “We tell them to stay focused and something will break through. It only takes one guy to get the momentum running.”
Eastlake’s breakthrough came in the top of the sixth inning with two outs when Steve Johnson hit a ball into the gap between third base and shortstop. An overthrow to second base allowed two runners to score to tie the game 3-3.
Devin Ekel then hit the first pitch into short left field to score the 4-3 go-ahead run for Eastlake.
Jacob Robinette, Vincent Mason and Daniel Kalfayan each scored runs for Eastlake in the sixth inning.
Ekel had scored Eastlake’s first run of the game in the first inning.
Eastlake scored two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Pitcher Daniel Escobedo tripled and came around on a double by Mason. Kalfayan hit a nubber to second base but the ball was mishandled, allowing Mason to swing around to home plate in a surprise move to plate his team’s sixth run of the game.
Escobedo pitched a complete game. He tossed 87 pitches, striking out two batters.
Luckie Waller attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning after opening the frame with a walk and advancing the runner to third on a stolen base and sacrifice fly.
However, the runner was thrown out at the plate on a nubber up the third base line for the second out of the game. Escobedo got the final out of the game on a pop out at first base.
Eastlake won the opening game in the teams’ best-of-three championship series by a score of 3-2 on Monday. Luckie Waller evened the series with a 6-5 win on Tuesday.
Jacob Saldana picked up the win for Eastlake in Monday’s game while Julian Pagan hit a home run in a losing cause on Tuesday.
Villarreal called Escobedo’s complete game victory a “huge performance.”
Eastlake advances to the section tournament and will play the District 66 champion on Saturday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m. on the Holtville Junior League field.
The four-team double-elimination tournament continues through July 15.
“I don’t know too much about the other teams we’re playing but we’re pretty solid through the line-up,” Villarreal said. “I like our chances.”
Angel Morales scored Luckie Waller’s opening run in the game while Damon Thomas and Diego Robles each scored runs in the third inning to give Luckie Waller a 3-1 lead.
Califfornia Section 7 Tournament
Saturday, July 11
Twin Hills (Disctirct 66) 18, Eastlake (District 42) 0
Brawley (District 22) 8, Rancho San Diego (District 41) 3
Sunday, July 12
Challenger bracket semifinal
Rancho San Diego (District 41) 27, Eastlake (District 42) 7
Winners bracket final
Brawley (District 22) 6, Twin Hills (District 66) 2
Monday, July 13
Challenger bracket final
Twin Hills
Twins Hills (District 66) vs. Rancho San Diego (District 41), 7:30 p.m. at Brawley varsity field
Tuesday, July 14
Championship game
Brawley (District 22) vs. Twin Hills-Rancho San Diego winner, 7:30 p.m. at Brawley varsity field
California District 42 Little League All-Star tournaments
12U Division
Thursday, July 2
Sweetwater Valley 27, Chula Vista American 0 Chula Vista American Little League
Park View 16, Chula Vista National 0 at Eastlake Little League
Friday, July 3
Luckie Waller 7, Eastlake 5 at Eastlake Little League
Imperial Beach 10, Southwest 2 at Imperial Beach Little League
Monday, July 6
Sweetwater Valley 19, Park View 1 at Chula Vista American Little League
Imperial Beach 7, Luckie Waller 5 at Imperial Beach Little League, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
Southwest 4, Eastlake 3 at Imperial Beach Little League
Chula Vista American 12, Chula Vista National 1 at Chula Vista American Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Challenger bracket game at Chula Vista American Little League, Chula Vista American 5, Luckie Waller 3
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Park View 14,. Southwest, 1
Thursday, July 9
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Park View 8, Chula Vista American 7
Winner bracket final at Imperial Beach Little League, Sweetwater Valley 18, Imperial Beach 0
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Park View 14, Imperial Beach 1
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Sweetwater Valley 14, Park View 0
11U Division
Friday, July 3
Chula Vista American 12, Sweetwater Valley 2 at Chula Vista American Little League
Park View 15, Eastlake 10 at Eastlake Little League
Monday, July 6
Chula Vista American 9, Park View 8 at Chula Vista Ameican Little League
Wednesday, July 7
Sweetwater Valley 8, Eastlake 7 at Chula Vista American Little League (completion of suspended game from Tuesday)
Thursday, July 9
Challenger bracket final at Imperial Beach Little Leauge, Park View 4, Sweetwater Valley 3
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Park View 11, Chula Vista American 10
Sunday, July 12
Championship game
Chula Vista American 9, Park View 8
10U Division
Thursday, July 2
Eastlake 18, Park View 2 at Eastlake Little League
Sweetwater Valley 14, Chula Vista American 8 at Chula Vista American Little League
Friday, July 3
Southwest 14, Chula Vista National 6 at Chula Vista American Little League
Imperial Beach 15, Luckie Waller 0 at Imperial Beach Little League, 6 p.m.
Monday, July 5
Sweetwater Valley 6, Eastlake 0 at Imperial Beach Little League, 5 p.m.
Imperial Beach 8, Luckie Waller 3 at Imperial Beach Little League, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
Chula Vista National 5, Luckie Waller 4 at Imperial Beach Little League
Park View 10, Chula Vista American 1 at Imperial Beach Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Challenger bracket game at Chula Vista American Little League, Southwest 8, Park View, 5
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Eastlake 15, Chula Vista National 0
Thursday, July 9
Winners bracket final at Imperial Beach Little League, Imperial Beach 6, Sweetwater Valley 3 (7 innings)
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Eastlake 16, Southwest 6
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater ValleyLittle League, Sweetwater Valley 7, Eastlake 2
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, Sweetwater Valley 11, Imperial Beach 1
Sunday, July 12
Championship game
Sweetwater Valley 15, Imperial Beach 8
Junior Division
Championship series
Monday, July 6
Eastlake 3, Luckie Waller 2 at Eastlake Little League
Tuesday, July 7
Luckie Waller 6, Eastlake 5 at Eastlake Little League
Wednesday, July 8
Championship game: Eastlake 6, Luckie Waller 3 at Eastlake Little League
Senior Division
Championship series
Monday, June 22
Southwest 7, Luckie Waller 4
Wednesday, June 24
Luckie Waller 9, Southwest 6
Thursday, June 25
Southwest 7, Luckie Waller 0
Note: Southwest wins District 42 championship, advances to the Section 7 tournament on Saturday, June 27, at noon at Spring Valley Little League.
California District 42 Little League
All-Star Tournament Champions
10U: Sweetwater Valley
11U: Chula Vista American
12U: Sweetwater Valley
Junior: Eastlake
California District 41 Little League
All-Star Tournament Champions
10U: Cajon De Oro
11U: Rancho San Diego
12U:Rancho San Diego
Junior Division: Rancho San Diego
California District 66 champions
Big League: Spring Valley Little League
Senior Division: Spring Valley Little League
Intermediate Division: Las Palmas Little League
Junior Division: Twin Hills Little League
12U: Lemon Grove
11U: Valley de Oro Little League
10U: Valley de Oro Little League
