For the third time in the last six years and the fourth time in its history, California District 42 Little League will represent Southern California in the Litlte League World Series West Regional championship tournament. It’s a great achievement – one that is certainly not lost on everyone associated with Sweetwater Valley Little League’s history-making 12U all-star team.
This is the farthest that any team from the league has advanced in all-star tournament play in the 55-plus years the league has been up and running. Sweetwater Valley carries a 12-0 record into Sunday’s opening game against Waipio Little League, the representative from Waipahu, Hawaii.
The winner advances to Monday’s winners bracket game against Paseo Verde Little League from Henderson, Nev.
The six-team double-elimination bracket tournament continues with losers bracket games Tuesday and Wednesday, the winners bracket semifinal on Thursday and the loser bracket semifinal on Friday.
The championship game is scheduled Saturday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. The winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
All games will be played at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. All games will be carried on the ESPN television network.
Sunday’s game will be carried on ESPN3.
Sweetwater Valley plays Hawaii at 7:30 p.m. Pizzo’s Pizzeria at The Shops at San Miguel Ranch will host the team’s official viewing party on its outside patio. The restaurant is located at 2322 Proctor Valley Road. Twenty percent of the proceeds go back to the team.
About 200 people attended Thursday evening’s community pep rally at the Sweetwater Valley Little League complex on Conduit Road to help send off the league’s 12U all-star team to San Bernardino.
The festive, family-friendly event included concessions, souvenir t-shirts for sale, plenty of cheering and a home run derby put on by the team during practice.
SVLL manager Ward Lannom said the team is taking the upcoming tournament seriously in its bid to land a berth in the iconic LLWS. “We’re going there to win the tournament and not treat it as a vacation,” he said.
Sweetwater Valley has achieved success in all-star tournament play both at the plate and on the pitching mound. The team has amassed 57 home runs in the 12 games, scored 179 runs and owns a .510 hitting average.
Still, Lannom said the team is focusing on one game at a time, though the team’s ultimate goal is to advance to the LLWS.
California is represented by two teams at the regional tournament – one from Southern California and one from Northern California. Cambrian Park Little League from San Jose, Chandler National North Little League from Chandler, Ariz., and Snow Canyon Little League from Santa Clara, Utah, round out the west region field.
Opening day ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m.
Lannon said Thursday’s final practice at the SVLL complex was a bit bittersweet in that it was the last time the team would be practicing on its home field.
Sweetwater Valley slams six homers, blasts Hawaii, 16-9, in Little League World Series West Region opener
Sunday’s Little League World Series West Regional game between Southern California champion Sweetwater Valley Little League and Hawaii champion Waipio Little League proved to be a hitter’s paradise as the teams combined for 13 runs in the first inning alone before finishing with a final tally of 26 runs on 27 hits in the opening-round game.
Sweetwater Valley came out on top, 16-9, in the slugfest to advance to Monday’s winners bracket game against Paseo Verde Little League from Henderson, Nev.
The winner of Monday’s game advances to Thursday’s semifinal contest in the six-team tournament.
The reigning California District 42 and California Section 7 champions racked up 16 hits in the tournament opener against Hawaii, belting six home runs.
The six home runs set a new single-game regional record since the fences were moved back to 225 feet in 2011.
Sweetwater Valley (13-0) scored in each of the opening four innings and plated runs in five of the six innings overall. Despite tacking up six runs in the top of the first inning to quickly go up 6-0, the District 42 champions had to play from behind after Hawaii scored seven runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
“Crazy first inning,” Sweetwater Valley manager Ward Lannom explained. “We thought we had it when we went ahead, 6-0, but they (Hawaii) came back with seven runs. The team battled back after they went up 7-6. Walker (Lannom) hit a two-run home run to make it 8-7 and the momentum shifted. From that point on, we stayed on top.”
Sweetwater Valley came into Sunday evening’s game averaging 4.75 home runs per game, 15.25 hits per game and 14.91 runs per game. The team’s offensive production held up in the numbers department but the pitching and defense will need to tighten if the team is going to advance farther in the regional field.
Sweetwater Valley used four pitchers in the game while Hawaii went through five pitchers.
Hawaii drops to Tuesday’s losers bracket game and will play the loser of Monday’s Utah-Arizona winners bracket game.
Arizona stunned Northern California, 1-0, in Sunday’s opening round.
Levi Mendez and Walker Lannom each cracked a pair of home runs in Sunday’s game while Isaac Artalejo went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs.
Mendez got the scoring going with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and responded with a solo shot in the top of the third inning to extend the Sweetwater Valley lead to 12-7.
Lannom hit solo shot in first inning and added a two-run shot in second inning as Sweetwater Valley scored five runs in the frame to take an 11-7 lead over Hawaii.
Hawaii proved it belonged in the tournament by rapping out 11 hits. Waipio – the 2008 Little League World Series champion and 2010 LLWS runner-up — made it 14-9 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning while being aided by one SVLL error.
Through four innings the teams had combined for 23 runs on 23 hits.
Artalejo chipped in with three run-scoring singles, including a two-run scoring single in the first inning and and a three-run scoring single in the second inning, to brace the Sweetwater Valley offense.
Sweetwater Valley sent nine batters to the plate in its half of the first inning.
Antonio Andrade opened the game by reaching base on an error and Mendez promptly drove the first pitch offered him over the outfield canopies for a tape-measure home run. Nate Nakil followed with what appared to be another home run until the Waipio outfielder threw his glove up to snag it before it went over the outfield hedge. Lannom then followed with a home run just inside the left field foul pole to make it 3-0.
The hitting barrage contnued. Jake Baptista lined a single into center field and Dante Schmid followed with a bloop hit into short right field to place runners at first and second bases. Artalejo then drove a pitch to the alley in right center field to score two runs, and Artalejo came around to score when the throw home was misplayed.
6-0 SVLL.
Hawaii made some rumblings in the bottom of the third inning after opening with a double and single to place runners at the corners. Following a force-out, Sweetwater Valley managed to thwart a double steal by throwing out the runner at the plate. Mendez, who entered the game in relief of starter Nankil with just one down in the first inning, then bore down to get the final out of the inning on a strikeout to strand the runner at third base.
Sweetwater Valley responded to the Hawaii threat by adding two runs in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back home runs by Braiz Ramirez and Nick Maldonado.
Sweetwater Valley added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning when Jake Baptista doubled off the glove of the left fielder, Ramirez followed with an infield single and, with one out, a throwing error allowed one run to score. The inning continued with two more singles and another error that scored one run.
Nankil was charged with all seven Hawaii runs while failing to make it out of the bottom of the first inning. Mendez took over and managed to stop the bloodletting by getting the final two outs of the inning.
Mendez left the game with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after giving up two runs on five hits. He left the game with a five-run cushion after throwing 66 pitches and inducing seven strikeouts.
“Nate started and pitched a good first inning, we just made a couple of errors to keep it going,” the elder Lannom said. “Levi came in and stopped them.”
Andrade entered the game with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and left the game two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning after throwing 20 pitches. He pitched the equivalent of one-and-one-third innings.
Schmid closed out the game by getting the final out on a grounder to second base. He was clocked at 75 mph while pitching to two batters.
The SVLL manager has stressed his team continues to “take it one game at a time.”
Monday’s game against the Nevada champion thus looms as the team’s biggest this season as the road to Williamsport starts to take its final turn.
“We’re looking good,” Ward Lannom said. “We have two strong pitchers for Nevada. They had the bye, so we’re assuming they will throw their ace.”
Both Schmid and Andrade are available for Monday’s game while Mendez will be available for Thursday’s game, if Sweetwater Valley advances that far.
Mendez also finished with three hits in Sunday’s game to match Artalejo while collecting three RBI.
Vincent Ogasawara paced Hawaii with three RBI.
Sage-Manuel Kaohou started the game for Waipio.
Hawaii committed six errors in the game.
Double elimination play continues on Tuesday when two of the six teams will be eliminated. The final four teams in the tournament enter a single-elimination bracket.
Sweetwater Valley now has 63 home runs in 13 games. Twelve of the 13 players on the SVLL roster have now hit home runs. Andrade leads the team with 15 home runs.
Viewing parties for Monday’s game are scheduled for both Pizzo’s Pizzeria and Oggi’s Pizza in eastern Chula Vista.
The attendance for Sunday’s game was announcecd as more than 9,700 — an opening day regional tournament record.
Another one bites the dust as Sweetwater Valley’s magic season contnues with 11-2 win over Nevada
With 10 home runs, 30 hits and 27 runs scored, Sweetwater Valley Little League’s 12U all-star team has cut a commanding 2-0 swath through the opening two rounds of this week’s Little League World Series West Region championship tournament in San Bernardino.
A bit harrowing at times, Sweetwater Valley proved it was the better team in Monday’s winners bracket game against Paseo Verde Little League from Henderson, Nev., by recording an 11-2 victory.
Sweetwater Valley (14-0) advances to Thursday’s winners bracket final against Snow Canyon Little League from Santa Clara, Utah. The winner of Thursday’s semifinal earns a berth in Saturday’s tournament championship game.
The winner of Saturday’s game advances to the Little League World Series.
Sweetwater Valley slammed four home runs and rapped out 14 hits in Monday’s win to build on its 16-9 win over Hawaii on Sunday.
“It was a matter of time before we figured out their pitcher and started hitting,” SVLL manager Ward Lannom explained in regard to Monday’s victory. “I think all the games from here on out are going to be closer, none are going to be cakewalks.”
After enduring a marathon game against Hawaii Sunday night, Sweetwater Valley was forced to make a quick turnaround to play an afternoon game on Monday. Both teams created opportunities in every inning, with Sweetwater Valley managing to produce that breakthrough play to score runs in bunches whereas Nevada did not. Paseo Verde left 13 men on base in the game.
In fact, it appeared early on the game might turn into a blowout on the part of the Southern California champions. Sweetwater Valley missed a golden opportunity after loading the bases with none out in the top of the first inning. However, the District 42 champions couldn’t capitalize.
That would not happen again. Sweetwater Valley poured five runs across in the top of the second inning and added a single run in the third inning, two more each in the fourth and fifth innings and another run in the sixth inning.
“I have confidence in our hitting,” Lannom said. “It’s not a matter of if we will score but when we will score.”
Antonio Andrade and Levi Mendez opened the game with back-to-back singles and Nate Nankil followed with an infield hit to load the bases. But Walker Lannom struck out and Jake Baptista hit into a double play to end the inning.
Paseo Verde put two runners on in its half of the frame and also couldn’t push anyone home as starter Dante Schmid struck out two batters and induced a third hitter into ground out.
Sweetwater Valley picked up right where if left off as Schmid doubled to lead off the second inning. Isaac Artalejo, who picked up five RBI in Sundays opener, drove a smash into left field to score Schmid for a 1-0 SVLL lead.
The Southern California champs made it 2-0 on a standup double by Andrade and a line single by Mendez with two out. With runners at the corners, Nankil then slammed the first pitch offered him over the left-center field fence for a three-run home run.
Suddenly, it was 5-0 Sweetwater Valley.
The Nevada champions got one run back in the bottom of the second inning. It started when catcher Matt Galdi blooped a single into center field. Schmid struck out the next batter for two outs. But a walk and a single loaded the bases. Schmid fell behind Santino Panaro 3-1 before issuing another walk to bring in one run. The SVLL pitcher, facing his counterpart at the plate, Julian Molto-Herrera, got out of the inning on a strikeout.
Through two frames, Paseo Verde had left five runners on base.
Sweetwater Valley got that run back on a home run by Jake Baptista to lead off the top of the third inning.
Paseo Verde threatened once again in the bottom of the third inning. Schmid issued a lead-off walk and, following a ground-out, walked another batter to place two runners on base. Schmid struck out Galdi for the second out but left the hill in favor of Nankil after pushing his pitch tally to 66 in the game.
Nankil struck out Tanner McDougal for the third out of the inning to end the threat. Going to Nankil was a big confidence boost after Nankil encountered a rocky start in Sunday’s opener.
“Nate actually pitched well on Sunday,” the SVLL manager said. “He had 13 strikes and six balls but that error hurt him and Hawaii had a couple of bloop hits. We’re going to use Nate down the line. We took him out at 20 pitches so he’ll be available for our next game.”
Schmid, clocked at 77 mph early in the contest, struck out six batters but walked four batters during his time on the mound.
Nevada changed pitchers in the top of the fourth inning and Sweetwater Valley greeted newcomer Ryan Weisman by scoring twice in the frame. Mark Cervantes cracked a lead-off home run to up Sweetwater Valley’s lead to 7-1. Andrade followed with an infield hit and Mendez drew a walk to place two runners on base. A force-out by Lannom scored one run. Sweetwater Valley was denied more runs on a running catch in right field to close the inning.
Nankil returned to the hill with an 8-1 lead. The Nevadans again put two runners on base but stranded both as Nankil induced two fly-outs and a groundout.
Sweetwater Valley finally secured a comfortable lead after scoring twice in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 10-1. A two-out bloop single by Cameron Barbabosa, a line single by Andrade and a two-RBI double by Mendez did the damage.
Andrade finished the game 4-for-4 while Mendez collected three RBI in the contest.
Nankil stranded a pair of Nevada runners in the bottom of the fifth after Galdi (single) and Brant Hunt (double) mounted a two-out rally.
Sweetwater Valley continued its prolific run production as Lannom led off the sixth inning with a home run to dead center field. It was Lannom’s third home run of the series, SVLL’s 10th in two games at regionals and 67th in all-star tournament play.
11-1 Sweetwater Valley.
Nankil remained on the mound heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Nevada sent up the top of its order and built some momentum for Tuesday’s elimination game against Northern California’s Cambrian Park Little League from San Jose by scoring one run and threatening for more.
Panara stroked a one-out base hit and Molto-Herrera followed with another base hit to place runners at the corners. Josh McClean followed with a third consecutive base hit to plate one run. McClean, however, was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double, though he was credited with an RBI to make the score 11-2.
A subsequent walk took Nankil out of the game at 51 pitches, with Andrade inducing a first pitch groundout to end the game.
Nankil did a yeoman’s job in relief, pitching three innings while allowing one run.
Utah is next on Sweetwater Valley’s schedule. Game time is 6 p.m., with the game to be telecast by ESPN.
Sweetwater Valley has scored 27 runs and battered opposing pitchers for 30 hits in two outings at the regional tournament.
Mendez had a good day on Monday with three hits and a walk and three RBI while Lannom had two RBI.
Utah will be playing its second game after receiving a first-round bye. Landon Frei drove in three runs and struck out nine batters in Monday’s 11-1 win over Arizona champion Chandler National North Little League.
The loser of Thursday’s game drops to Friday’s losers bracket final, which stands as the second semifinal entry to Saturday’s championship contest.
Utah scored 11 runs on six hits while Arizona committed three errors. Frei allowed just four hits in the run-rule victory.
Sweetwater Valley has an abundance of arms to throw at Snow Canyon. Available for pitching duty on Thursday are Mendez, Nankil, Andrade and Lannom. Schmid will be available for Friday or Saturday’s games, depending on the result of Thursday’s match-up against Utah.
The elder Lannom described the Utah team as “scrappy.”
“They’re small but they beat Chandler, which some people here are calling an upset,” the SVLL manager said. “But you’ve got to go out and play the game. They’ve obviously got something there.”
In the meantime, a lot of people keep rooting for Sweetwater Valley to keep going.
“We’ve been good and we’ve had some luck,” the SVLL told the media in San Bernardino after Monday’s game. “It’s worked.”
Sweetwater Valley 12U All-Stars
Team Roster
Players: Antonio Andrade, Isaac Artalejo, Ariel Armas, Jacob Baptista, Cameron Barbabosa, Mark Cervantes, Preston Fleming, Walker Lannom, Nicholas Maldonado, Levi Mendez, Nate Nankil, Braiz Ramirez, Dante Schmid
Manager: Ward Lannom
Coaches: Arturo Maldonado, Jaime Ramirez
Bonita Vista Middle School
Isaac Artalejo, age 13 (nickname “Cachorro”)
Antonio Andrade, age 13 (nickname “Double-A”)
Nate Nankil, age 12 (nickname “Nankil the ball”)
Cameron Barbabosa, age 12 (nickname “Shrimp”)
Eastlake Middle School
Walker Lannom, age 12 (nickname “The Talker”)
Dante Schmid, age 13 (nickname “Big D”)
Levi Mendez, age 12 (nickname “Chip”)
Nick Maldonado, age 12 (nickname “Penguin”)
Preston Fleming, age 12 (nickname “P-diddy”)
Calvary Christian Academy
Mark Cervantes, age 13 (nickname “Mark, Mark, Mark”)
Sacred Heart Academy
Ari Armas, age 12 (nickname “Bugatti”)
Coronado Middle School
Braiz Ramirez, age 12 (nickname “Tree”)
Home School
Jake Baptista, age 12 (nickname “Eyebrows”)
Sweetwater Valley Little League
Tournament Game Log
California District 42 champions
Sweetwater Valley 28, Chula Vista American 0
Sweetwater Valley 19, Park View 1
Sweetwater Valley 18, Imperial Beach 0
Sweetwater Valley 14, Park View 0
California Section 7 champions
Sweetwater Valley 10, Lemon Grove 0
Sweetwater Valley 20, Rancho San Diego 5
Sweetwater Valley 18, Rancho San Diego 7
Southern California-South Division III champions
Sweetwater Valley 12, Orangecrest 5
Sweetwater Valley 6, Encinitas 2
Sweetwater Valley 7, Oceanview 4 (7 innings)
Southern California Division III champions
Sweetwater Valley 9, Manhattan 6
Sweetwater Valley 18, Manhattan 5
Sweetwater Valley wins best-of-three series 2-0
Little League International Western Regional Tournament
West Regional teams:
Chandler National North Little League (Arizona)
Waipahu Waipio Little League (Hawaii)
Paseo Verde Little League (Nevada)
San Jose Cambrian Park Little League (Northern California)
Sweetwater Valley Little League (Southern California)
Snow Canyon Little League (Utah)
Northwest Regional teams:
Juneau Gastineau Channel Little League (Alaska)
West Valley Little League (Idaho)
Billings Boulder Arrowhead Little League (Montana)
Portland Wilshire-Riverside Little League (Oregon)
Vancouver Cascade Little League (Washington)
Gillette Little League (Wyoming)
Game Schedule
Sunday, Aug. 9
Arizona 3, Northern California 0 (West Region)
Oregon 12, Wyoming 3 (Northwest Region)
Washington 5, Idaho 0 (Northwest Region)
Southern California 16,Hawaii 9 (West Region)
Monday, Aug. 10
Oregon 11, Alaska 6 (Northwest Region), 8:30 a.m. ESPN3
Utah 11, Arizona 1 (West Region) (5 innings)
Southern California 11, Nevada 2 (West Region)
Washington 11, Montana 2 (Northwest Region)
Tuesday, Aug. 11
Northwest Region elimination game, Montana 11, Wyoming 1
West Region elimination game, Nevada 9, Northern California 3
West Region elimination game, Hawaii 12, Arizona 9 (7 innings)
Northwest Region elimination game, Idaho 10, Alaska 0 (4 innings)
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Northwest Region elimination game, Idaho 16, Montana 11
West Region elimination game, Hawaii, 14, Nevada 3
Thursday, Aug. 13
Northwest Region winners bracket final (semifinal #1), Oregon 10, Washington 6
West region winners bracket final (semifinal #1), Southern California11, Utah 1
Friday, Aug. 14
Northwest Region elimination game (semifinal #2), Idaho 8, Washington 7
West Region elimination game (semifinal #2), Hawaii 15, Utah 0
Saturday, Aug. 15
Northwest Region championship game, Oregon 15, Idaho 3
Note: Oregon advances to Little League World Series
West Region championship game, Southern California 12, Hawaii 10
Note: Southern California advances to Little League World Series
