Do you know the way to the Little League World Series? These guys do

Do you know the way to the Little League World Series? Four teams from California District 42 Little League certainly do.

The Park View Little League Blue Bombers won it all in 2009 to set the standard for all other South County youth baseball teams to follow.

Eastlake Little League’s “golden boys” followed four years later and came home with a second-place finish to Japan and the United States Division championship in the process.

Two years after that, in 2015, the Sweetwater Valley Little League Sluggers were on the same trail again, this time finishing third among U.S. teams.

Last year, Park View celebrated its return to Little League Baseball’s hallowed fields in South Williamsport, Pa. The team won two games, including an international match-up against Caribbean Region champion Pariba Little League (Willemstad, Curacao) after both teams were eliminated from the challenger bracket.

For 12- and 13-year-old ball-players, the LLWS remains the ultimate destination. This year’s LLWS championship tournament is scheduled Aug. 17-27.

Mid-Atlantic Region champion Maine-Endwell Little League (Endwell, N.Y.) won last year’s LLWS championship title.
It won’t take long to determine if the latest District 42 champion has the proverbial right stuff to take the same path to greatness.

The double-elimination All-Star tournament is scheduled to start Tuesday, June 27, with five participating teams in the Little League Division. The championship game is scheduled Sunday, July 2, at Sweetwater Valley Little League. If necessary, a championship replay will take place Monday, July 3.

Sweetwater Valley, Imperial Beach, Park View, Eastlake and Chula Vista American will throw their caps into this year’s ring to see which team is left standing.

Sweetwater Valley will meet Imperial Beach in an opening round game Tuesday at Chula Vista American Little League, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Park View will host Eastlake on Wednesday, June 28, at 5:30 p.m., while Chula Vista American will host the Sweetwater Valley-Imperial Beach victor on Wednesday, June 28, also at 5:30 p.m.

The first elimination game is scheduled Thursday, June 29, at Eastlake Little League, starting at 5:30 p.m. Two more rounds of elimination games follow before the challenger bracket survivor meets the lone undefeated team from the winners’ bracket in the championship game on July 2.

The district final is scheduled for a 1:15 p.m. start.

Not everyone who has played in the Little League World Series has gone on to play in Major League Baseball. But there certainly has been a sizable representation by former LLWS players in levels higher than Little League Baseball.

Five former Eastlake Little League players added their names to a short but growing list of local players who have ventured to both the Little League World Series and won a San Diego Section championship.

Grant Holman, Micah Pietila-Wiggs, Nick Mora, Ricky Tibbett and Jake Espinosa were regulars on this year’s CIF champion Eastlake High School Titans. They also made the trek to Pennsylvania in 2013.

Two additional former LLWS participants, Charley Peterson from Eastlake Little League (2013) and Dante Schmid from Sweetwater Valley Little League (2015) were elevated to the Titans’ playoff squad from this year’s EHS junior varsity team.

Pietila-Wiggs said both championships — Eastlake Little League’s U.S. title and the Titans’ section banner — have a deep personal meaning to him.

But there are differences.

“What I remember most is that there were a lot more people in Williamsport,” he offered.

Pietila-Wiggs, a media darling from the 2013 LLWS, still opens his war chest on occasion and revisits old memories; he watches video and pours over personal mementoes.

They are golden memories, indeed.

Eastlake reached the LLWS with an 18-1 record after winning championship titles at the district, section, sub-division, state and regional levels.

The magical ride was just beginning, however.

Holman hurled a seven-inning no-hitter while striking out 13 batters to help his team defeat Great Lakes region champion Grosse Pointe (Mich.), 3-0, in the opening game of the 2013 LLWS.

Holman — the team’s then six-foot-four giant — then capped a 15-3 victory against Mid-Atlantic region champion Newark (Del.) with a walk-off grand slam home run to complement the two-hit pitching of Mora.

Holman then supplied Eastlake with a game-winning home run in a 6-3 nine-inning thriller over Westport in the winners bracket semifinals. The win pushed Eastlake into the LLWS U.S. bracket championship game — and a rematch against the New England region champs.

Eastlake won the U.S. title, 12-1, behind another two-hitter by Mora, who struck out 10 batters and clubbed a three-run home run to help his own cause at the plate.

As the game ended, fans began chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!”

Eastlake had become America’s team.

“It’s awesome — chasing the dream to Williamsport,” Holman said at the time.

Holman finished the 2013 LLWS tournament with the most strikeouts (28) while Pietila-Wiggs recorded the most hits (11).
The passage of time, as well as maturity, has put the LLWS in its own special place.

Camaraderie is the linkage point between the 2013 and 2017 timelines, players said.

Rick Tibbett, who managed the 2013 Eastlake Little League team, remembers the 22-2 record and all the hoopla of being in Williamsport. But he said making new friends was what participating in the Little League World Series delivered as it core value.

“It was amazing how green everything was and how everyone made new friends in the dorms,” the elder Tibbett said. “The camaraderie is what stood out. That was the best part.”

“It was fun,” Holman said of participating in the Little League World Series. “I got to go to the stadiums there; they’re obviously very special memories. I try to remember the games we had there.

“(Winning the CIF championship) is definitely a different experience. I have a different perspective on it. At the end of the day, I’m glad we won it (the CIF title).”

“It means more to me, I think,” Pietila-Wiggs recounted about winning the CIF championship with the Titans. “It’s for my school and with all my friends. It was the third time, so we really wanted it.”

Now as a team parent, Rick Tibbett said his direction has taken on a new path: that of the snack bar operator at Eastlake High School games.

“It’s fun to be able to sit back and let other people make decisions,” he offered with a smile.

All five former LLWS players had an impact on this year’s Eastlake CIF championship team.

Holman compiled a 10-0 pitching record in 13 game appearances with a 0.99 earned-run average. He struck out 88 batters and allowed 54 hits in 78 innings.

At the plate, Holman hit .384 with seven doubles and 12 home runs, collected 40 RBI and scored 32 runs. He registered an .818 slugging percentage.

Pietila-Wiggs, this year’s Mesa League Player of the Year, batted .412 with 11 doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI and scored 39 runs. He had an on-base percentage of .507.

Holman and Pietila-Wiggs have received interest from college recruiters but have yet to make a decision, according to EHS head coach Dave Gallegos.

Ricky Tibbett pitched 26-and-two-thirds innings, allowed 17 hits and struck out 17 batters while compiling a 3-0 record and 1.31 ERA in 15 game appearances.

Espinosa appeared in 14 games, hit .211 with one RBI and two runs scored.

Mora, a catcher, appeared in 13 games, made 25 plate appearances, drove in two runs and scored three times.

All five will be back next season joined by a few more former LLWS teammates up from the Titans JV team.

Ready for a CIF repeat?

California District 42 Little League
Tournament of Champions

6U Division
Pool play
Saturday, June 17

Chula Vista American 7, Chula Vista National 0
Park View 3, Imperial Beach 0
South Bay 5, Eastlake 3

Monday, June 19

Sweetwater Valley 10, Southwest 0

Tuesday, June 20

Sweetwater Valley 11, Luckie Waller 0
Southwest 10, Imperial Beach 4

Wednesday, June 21
Eastlake 13, Chula Vista American 7
Park View 8, Chula Vista National 0

Thursday, June 22
South Bay 7, Luckie Waller 1

Saturday, June 24
Semifinal games at Imperial Beach Little League: 
Park View 5, South Bay 2
Sweetwater Valley 11, Eastlake 1

Monday, June 26
Championship game:
Sweetwater Valley 14, Park View 5

8U Division
Pool play
Saturday, June 17

Chula Vista American 19, South Bay 0
Imperial Beach 10, Chula Vista National 0
Sweetwater Valley 12, Luckie Waller 2

Monday, June 19

Eastlake 19, Southwest 0

Tuesday, June 20
Park View 20, Southwest 0
Eastlake 15, Imperial Beach 0

Wednesday, June 21
Sweetwater Valley 15, Chula Vista American 10
South Bay 15, Chula Vista National 5

Thursday, June 22

Park View 9, Luckie Waller 6

Saturday, June 24
Semifinal games at Imperial Beach Little League:
Sweetwater Valley 7, Park View 1
Eastlake 8, Chula Vista American 6

Monday, June 26
Championship game:
Eastlake 12, Sweetwater Valley 5

Minor League Division
Pool play
Saturday, June 17

South Bay 13, Luckie Waller 1
Park View 13, Southwest 3

Monday, June 19
Sweetwater Valley 15, Imperial Beach 3
Eastlake 11, Chula Vista American 0

Tuesday, June 20
Sweetwater Valley 10, Chula Vista National 0

Wednesday, June 21
Southwest 11, Imperial Beach 6
Eastlake 15, Luckie Waller 5

Thursday, June 22

Park View 9, South Bay 5
Chula Vista American 13, Chula Vista National 2

Saturday, June 24
Semifinal games at Imperial Beach Little League:
Eastlake 14, Park View 4
Sweetwater Valley 10, South Bay 0

Monday, June 26
Championship game:
Eastlake 4, Sweetwater Valley 1

Major League Division
Friday, June 16
Imperial Beach 17, Chula Vista National 2

Saturday, June 17

Imperial Beach 9, Southwest 0
Chula Vista American 13, South Bay 0
Park View 12, Luckie Waller 1
Eastlake defeated Sweetwater Valley, score unavailable

Monday, June 19

Chula Vista American 8, Imperial Beach 4
Eastlake 14, Park View 8

Tuesday, June 20
Championship game

Eastlake 18, Chula Vista American 3

California District 66 Little League
2017 Tournament of Champions

Minor League Division 
Championship game: Spring Valley 11, Valley de Oro 1

Major League Division
Championship game: Spring Valley 15, Las Palmas 0

Junior League Division

Championship game: Twin Hills 9, Spring Valley 2

California District 42 Little League
2017 All-Star Tournament Schedule

10U All-Star Division
Tuesday, June 27
Eastlake 9, Sweetwater Valley 0
Chula Vista American 14, Luckie Waller 8
Imperial Beach 6, Chula Vista National 5

Wednesday, June 28
Eastlake 10, Park View 0
Chula Vista American 15, Imperial Beach 9
Elimination game: Sweetwater Valley 16, Luckie Waller 5


Thursday, June 29

Elimination game: Imperial Beach 8, Park View 2
Elimination game: Sweetwater Valley 18, Chula Vista National 2

Friday, June 30
Winners bracket semifinal:Chula Vista American vs. Eastlake 3, Chula Vista American 1
Elimination game: Sweetwater Valley 9, Imperial Beach 3

Saturday, July 1
Elimination bracket semifinal: Sweetwater 16, Chula Vista American 1

Sunday, July 2

Championship game: Eastlake 13, Sweetwater Valley 0
Note: Eastlake Little League wins District 42 championship, advances to California Section 7 tournament at West Hills Little League (District 41). First game is Saturday, July 8, at 1:30 p.m. against District 22.

11U All-Star Division
Thursday, June 29
Eastlake 8, Park View 3
Chula Vista American 5, Sweetwater Valley 4

Friday, June 30
Winners bracket semifinal: Eastlake 13, Chula Vista American 0
Elimination game: Park View 15, Sweetwater Valley 2

Saturday, July 1
Elimination bracket semifinal: Park View 10, Chula Vista American 8

Sunday, July 2

Championship game: Eastlake 14, Park View 7
Note: Eastlake Little League wins District 42 championship, advances to California Section 7 tournament at Brawley Little League (District 22). First game is Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. against District 22.

12U All-Star Division
Tuesday, June 27
Sweetwater Valley 8, Imperial Beach 4

Wednesday, June 28
Eastlake 15, Park View 2
Sweetwater Valley defeated Chula Vista American, score unavailable

Thursday, June 29
Elimination game: Park View 19, Imperial Beach 7

Friday, June 30

Winners bracket semifinal: Eastlake 14, Sweetwater Valley 3
Elimination game: Park View 8, Chula Vista American 7

Saturday, July 1

Elimination bracket semifinal: Park View 10,Sweetwater Valley 6

Sunday, July 2
Championship game: Eastlake 32, Park View 1 (4 innings)
Note: Eastlake Little League wins District 42 championship, advances to California Section 7 tournament at Spring Valley Little League (District 66). First game Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. against District 41.

Intermediate League All-Star Division 
Saturday, June 24
Sweetwater Valley 11, Chula Vista American 1
Chula Vista National 10, Eastlake 7

Sunday, June 25
Luckie Waller 20, Sweetwater Valley 3
Elimination game: Eastlake 21, Chula Vista American 7

Tuesday, June 27
Winners bracket semifinal: Luckie Waller 12, Chula Vista National 0

Wednesday, June 28

Elimination game: Sweetwater Valley 19, Eastlake 17

Thursday, June 29
Elimination bracket semifinal: Sweetwater Valley 14, Chula Vista National 11

Saturday, July 1

Championship game: Luckie Waller 20, Sweetwater Valley 1
Note: Luckie Waller Little League wins District 42 championship, advances to the Southern California State Tournament at District 55 in Laguna Nigel. First game is Friday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. against Bloomington Little League from Section 8.

Junior League All-Star Division
Saturday, July 1
Park View 12, Luckie Waller 2

Sunday, July 2

Championship game: Park View 25, Luckie Waller 5
Note: Park View Little League wins District 42 championship, advances to California Section 7 tournament at Spring Valley Little League (District 66). First game Saturday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. against District 41.

California District 66 Little League All-Stars
10U All-STar Division

Pool play: Spring Valley 3-0, Valley de Oro 2-0, Lemon Grove 201, Encanto 1-1, Las Palmas 1-2, San Diego American 0-2, Twin Hills 0-3

11U All-Star Division

Pool play: Valley de Oro 2-0, Lemon Grove 1-1, Spring Valley 0-2

12U All-Star Division

Pool play: Spring Valley 3-0, Encanto 2-0,  Twin Hills 2-1, Valley deo Oro 1-1, Lemon Grove 1-2, Southeastern 0-2, Las Palmas 0-3

Junior League All-Star Division

Pool play: Lemon Grove 3-0, Twin Hills 2-1, San Diego American 1-2, Encanto 0-3