Even though the 2015 Little League World Series wrapped up three weeks ago, the honors keep piling up for the Sweetwater Valley Little League 12U all-star baseball team.
The Sweetwater Sluggers were honored at Tuesday’s Chula Vista City Council meeting with official proclamations of achievement after placing third out of approximately 7,000 Little League teams in their age group in the United States.
The team received a standing ovation from those gathered in the City Hall chambers and Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas personally presented ceremonial keys to the city to SVLL manager Ward Lannom and coaches Jaime Ramirez and Arturo Maldonado.
Lannom said the civic recognition is appreciated by both the team and its coaching staff.
“It’s really good to be home,” Lannom explained. “What’s amazing is the number of people from outside the Chula Vista area who congratulate us and who recognize us out of uniform. It’s pretty cool the number of people that Little League touches.”
Casillas Salas formally proclaimed Sept. 15 as Sweetwater Valley Little League All-Star Day in Chula Vista.
SVLL players Walker Lannom and Levi Mendez received further accolades from the mayor after being named All-American players at this year’s Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
The younger Lannom led all U.S. players with 10 hits in the tournament while fashioning a .588 hitting average with three home runs and nine RBI. He also did not commit an error in the team’s five games.
Lannom tied Japan’s Yugo Aoki for second overall in total hits at this year’s tournament behind leader Raul Leon of Mexico (11).
Mendez posted a .412 hitting average with three home runs, seven RBI a 10-3 win on the mound against New England Region champion Cranston Western Little League. He finished with 13 strikeouts in seven-and-one-third innings pitched to go with a sterling 1.64 earned-run average.
Japan’s Kabu Kikuchi led all pitchers with 24 strikeouts while Pennsylvania’s Cole Wagner led all U.S. players with 21 strikeouts. Wagner also hit four home runs.
Sweetwater Valley finished with a 19-2 record in 21 games played over the summer. The squad, comprised about equally of players from Chula Vista and Bonita, qualified to compete in the Little League World Series by winning the West Region championship in San Bernardino.
The team was formed on June 15 and opened play in the California District 42 championship tournament on July 2.
Sweetwater Valley captured five championship banners on its way to Pennsylvania. After winning the District 42 banner, the Sweetwater Sluggers continued their championship run by securing banners at the California Section 7 tournament, Southern California South Division III tournament, Southern California Division III tournament and West Region tournament.
Sweetwater Valley carried an undefeated 16-0 record into LLWS play. The Sweetwater Sluggers defeated Great Lakes Region champion Bowling Green Eastern of Kentucky, 14-2, in their first game before tasting defeat for the first time in all-star play with an 8-4 loss to Southwest Region champion Pearland West Little League from Texas.
The District 42 champions battled back with wins in the elimination bracket against Rhode Island and Kentucky before finally ending their tournament run with a 9-7 loss to Texas in an epic eight-inning contest in the tournament semifinals.
Sweetwater Valley tied a Little League World Series record with five home runs in one inning amid a six-home run barrage in the opening win over Kentucky. The Sweetwater Sluggers left their mark in South Williamsport by leading all teams — both in the United States and international divisions — with 15 home runs, 46 runs scored and 38 RBI.
Walker Lannom, Mendez and Dante Schmid each hit three home runs to lead the Southern California champions at the 2015 LLWS while Nick Maldonado and Jacob Baptista each hit grand slam home runs.
Sweetwater Valley slammed 15 home runs and scored 50 runs on 59 hits in its four West Region games to finish summer all-star play with 86 home runs, 275 runs scored and 286 hits.
For the record, the 2009 Park View Little League Blue Bombers continue to hold Little League World Series records for most home runs (19), hits (72), RBI (57), total bases (147) and slugging percentage (.902).
The San Diego Padres honored the 2015 West Region champions at a special pregame ceremony on Sept. 8 at Petco Park. Players were presented with their own custom Padres jersey (with names on the back), got to watch batting practice and also met several Major League Baseball players.
The Padres will honor Walker Lannom again on Sept. 30 after the SVLL pitcher/second baseman received honors as the San Diego Hall of Champions Amateur Athlete of the Month for August 2015. The SVLL player’s name will be on display at the Hall of Champions sports museum in Balboa Park.
“It feels really good,” the younger Lannom said. “It’s nice to have the cities of Chula Vista and San Diego now getting involved. It’s great to know that my hometown is behind me.”
Bonitafest honors
Still haven’t met your quota of Sweetwater Valley Little League player autographs or photos? Fans of the team will have another chance to congratulate the boys of summer (and their dads) at this weekend’s Bonitafest ’15.
SVLL players and coaches will march in the Bonitafest Twilight Trail Parade as it wends around the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course on Friday evening, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. The parade is open to all participants, including equestrians, bicyclists, strollers and walkers. Paraders are encouraged to bring glow sticks or small flashlights to help give the event its trademark luster.
Participants will gather at 5 p.m. at the Sunnyside Saddle Club Arena in Rohr Park. Leading the parade is Grand Marshal Mehl Lawson, a well-known Western artist and philanthropist.
SVLL players and 2015 VIPs will be introduced from the performing arts stage at the Bonitafest Street Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at Bonita Vista High School. SVLL gear will be available as an ongoing fundraiser to help defray the cost of travel expenses for parents who made the trek to Pennsylvania to watch their sons play in the Little League World Series.
Players will sign autographs and pose for photographs.
Team members will get a curtain call at the opening night of the 38th annual Bonitafest Melodrama, on Wednesday evening, Sept. 23, at the Sweetwater Community Church Theater. Players and coaches will be introduced at 7:20 p.m. prior to the start of the musical-comedy “Really Fast Food,” which is slated to premiere at 7:30 p.m.
“This is going to be a very special Bonitafest because we are celebrating so many of our talented young people as well as a wonderful group of lifelong Bonita super citizens,” Bonitafest ’15 General Chairman Dr. Max Branscomb explained.
“About half of the Bonitafest committee this year is comprised of bright and talented teenagers who came up with our theme, and who are putting together a special youth section at the street fair. Our performing arts stage is booked for seven hours with 100 percent South Bay student bands, dance troupes and show choirs that are all terrific. Now we have our Sweetwater Valley Little League All-Stars returning home after their amazing run to the Little League World Series. Youth will be served!”
