If Chula Vista South manager Valentin Luna sounds a bit giddy these days, he has a good reason for that. His team just qualified to compete in this weekend’s PONY-13 International World Series in Whittier.
Chula Vista South captured its fourth consecutive championship banner of summer all-star play after defeating Hilo (Hawaii), 6-1, in Monday’s West Zone championship game in Whittier.
Chula Vista South opened the all-star tournament season by winning the San Diego Section championship and followed with championship showings at the region and super region levels.
While the collection of championship banners has boosted his team in the win-loss department, Monday’s win over Hilo presented the team with an especially big confidence boost, according to Luna.
“They were one of the teams that beat us last year,” Luna explained. “They were a strong team, but our starting pitcher Antonio Garcia, who has been our starting pitcher in every one of our championship games, had another one of those days where he just dominated.”
Garcia wasn’t the only CV South player to dominate on Monday. That also could be said about catcher Keoni Cavaco, one of the team’s leading hitters, who Luna said has been calling the majority of the pitches throughout the team’s four tournaments.
Emilio Luna also stands out as the team’s starting shortstop and leadoff hitter.
“He’s like the un-named captain,” the CVS manager explained. “His leadership shows with his defensive play and attitude, keeping every player loose and also helping his players with positioning.”
He’s also been on fire at the plate with four triples, one double and three singles in the West Zone tournament.
“Emilio and Keoni are like brothers, they’ve been playing together since they where 7, and have been named as top players in their positions by various online travel ball magazines,” the CVS manager explained.
The team’s other top pitcher is Christian Vazquez, the only 12-year-old on the team.
“(But) you wouldn’t be able to tell by the way he plays the game,” the CVS manager said in referenced to Vazquez. “He had a big win against Mission Viejo (in the super region tournament) and was our starting pitcher in the win over Pacifica from Northern California (in the zone tournament).”
Eric Nakano has been an impact player with the bat, according to the elder Luna.
“It seems like he hits a bomb in every game,” Luna said. “He was the only player to hit a home run at York Field in Whittier.”
The CVS manager said he could keep “going on and on” about the superlative season his team has turned in this summer.
“Jesus Villegas, Diego Martinez and Christian have been doing a great job patrolling the outfield and coming up with big hits with men on base,” Luna said. “Bradley Mookini had a very good day at first base (in the game against Hilo). Arnold Escano and Jake Rose are two very special pieces to this puzzle. Jake, mostly a pitcher/first baseman, and Arnold, a utility player, are always ready to help out the team in any way possible. Every team needs those type of players.”
Vazquez led CVS with eight hits in the zone tournament while Nakano led the team with seven RBI. Nakano ranked second with seven hits, including three extra base hits.
Vazquez and Garcia both collected five RBI.
Winning pitchers included Rose, Cavaco, Garcia and Vazquez.
Garcia has picked up five of CVS’s 16 wins while Cavaco and Rose each have three wins to their credit.
Luna leads the team with 14 extra base hits, including six doubles and six triples. Cavaco has five doubles.
Cavaco, Vazquez and Nakano each have hit three home runs.
Luna has scored 29 runs to lead CVS while Nakano has scored 21 runs, Cavaco has scored 18 runs and Garcia 16 runs.
Next up
The International PONY-13 World Series opens Friday, July 31, and closes Monday, Aug. 3.
Chula Vista South’s opening game is against Chesterfield, Va.
Chula Vista South captured the championship title of what is now the PONY-14 World Series in 1967. A championship at the Pony-13 level would be history making, and follow in the footsteps of Chula Vista North’s Pony-13 World Series championship in 2010.
Southwest Region Director Keith Spencer termed it a “great job” by the Chula Vista South team to earn its first appearance in the PONY-13 World Series.
Spencer said the Chula Vistans will be taking on teams from the Philippines, Mexico, Dominican Republic as well as the other U.S. teams from Laredo Tex.,, Chesterfield, Va.,, Grand Ledge, Mich., and Whittier (host team) in the upcoming international tournament.
“This is a great accomplishment for the team and will provide for lasting memories for all of the families,” Spencer said.
Southwest Region teams have done well in postseason play this summer, with Ramona (PONY-14) and Clairemont North City (Mustang) both still in contention entering the week.
Ramona ended its season on Tuesday with a 19-9 loss to Covina in the PONY-14 super regional.
North City is seeking a spot in the Mustang zone tournament. The team defeated East Long Beach, 10-6, on Tuesday to earn the No. 2 SoCal bid. The Mustang division of PONY Baseball is for 10U players.
2015 PONY-13 INTERNATIONAL WORLD SERIES
York Field, Whittier, Calif.
Friday, July 31
Laredo (Texas) 18, Manila (Philippines) 3
Chula Vista South 5, Chesterfield (Virginia) 2
Dominican Republic 8, Mazatlan (Mexico) 0
Whittier 9, Grand Ledge (Mich.) 0
Saturday, Aug. 1
Mazatlan 16, Manila 1
Chesterfield 18, Grand Ledge 1
Dominican Republic 11, Laredo 1
Chula Vista South 7, Whittier 1
Sunday, Aug. 2
Challenger bracket games
Laredo 11, Mazatlan 8
Chesterfield 9, Whittier 1
Upper bracket final: Dominican Republic 4, Laredo 3
Lower bracket final: Chula Vista South 7, Chesterfield 6
Monday, Aug. 3
Championship game
Chula Vista South vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m.
Qualified Teams
West Zone: Chula Vista South
East Zone: Chesterfield, Va.
South Zone: Laredo, Texas
North Zone: Grand Ledge, Mich.
Asia-Pacific Zone: Manila
Mexico Zone: Mazatlan
Caribbean Zone: Dominican Republic
Host: Whittier
PONY-13 WEST ZONE TOURNAMENT
Whitter Pony Field
Friday, July 24
Scottsdale (Ariz.) 10, South Sound (Wash.) 5
Hilo (Hawaii) 8, Riverside 5
Pacifica 6, National City 5
Chula Vista South 6, Southeast Valley (Utah) 0
Saturday, July 25
Riverside 6, South Sound (Wsh.) 0
National City 16, Southeast Valley (Utah) 1
Hilo (Hawaii) 13, Scottsdale (Ariz. 5)
Chula Vista South 13, Pacifica 3
Sunday, July 26
Riverside 15, Scottsdale (Ariz.) 2
National City 9, Pacifica 5
Hilo (Hawaii) 12, Riverside 11
Chula Vista South 9. National City 0
Monday, July 27
Championship games: Chula Vista South 6, Hilo (Hawaii) 1
Note: Chula Vista South advancxes to Pony-13 International World Series July 31 to Aug. 3 in Whittier
Pony-14 SUPER REGION TOURNAMENT
West Covina and Long Beach Pony Fields
Friday, July 24
Games at West Covina
San Bernardino 18, Santa Monica 2
La Jolla 2, West Hills 0
Covina 4, Cypress 2
West Covina 7, High Desert 5
Games at Long Beach
Heartwell 13, Ramona 6
Santa Ana 10, IWV Ridgecrest 0
Norwalk 10, National City 0
Long Beach 18, Walnut 1
Saturday, July 25
Games at West Covina
West Hills 9, Santa Monica 8
San Bernardino 19, La Jolla 0
Cypress vs. High Desert, 2 p.m.
Covina vs. West Covina, 4:30 p.m.
Games at Long Beach
Ramona 6, IWV Ridgecrest 4
Long Beach 8, Norwalk 5
National City vs. Walnut, 3 p.m.
Heartwell vs. Santa Ana, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 26
Games at West Covina
San Bernardino 5, Covina 3
West Hills 16, West Covina 2
La Jolla 13, Cypress 3
West Hills 16, La Jolla 8
Games at Long Beach
Ramona 10, Norwalk 8
National City 4, Heartwell 1
Ramona 11, National City 10
Long Beach 3, Santa Ana 2
Monday, July 27
Covina, 6, West Hills 0
Ramona 10, Santa Ana 9
Championship game: Long Beach 10, San Bernardino 7 (Long Beach wins SoCal2 slot to West Zone tournament)
Tuesday, July 28
Challenger bracket final: Covina 19, Ramona 9
Second-place game, San Bernardino 14, Covina 7 (San Bernardino wins SoCal2 slot to West Zone tournament)
