Explosive starts have defined the Sweetwater Valley Little League 12U all-star team’s tournament performances thus far, and last Friday’s California Section 7 championship game against District 41 champion Rancho San Diego was no exception. The game featured 10 home runs by Sweetwater Valley and another four-inning mercy-rule victory.
The final score: 18-7.
With seven run-rule wins in as many games, Sweetwater Valley now finds itself in this weekend’s Southern California-South Sub-Division III championship tournament after clubbing it latest San Diego County opponent.
“People I haven’t seen in a long time were coming up to me before the game and explaining they have heard the hype, but had to witness it for themselves,” Sweetwater Valley Little League manager Ward Lannom explained. “We didn’t disappoint. This game had everything: hitting, hitting for power, great pitching, fan support, even a light that was broken by a ball which sent tons of safety glass crashing down onto the field for a 20-minute delay. The announcer made the comment, ‘This is right out of ‘The Natural’ and was a first.”
Did Sweetwater Valley play its best game of the season last Friday in repeating as section champions? It might be hard to argue, especially considering the elevated level of competition.
Sweetwater Valley hammered out a total of 21 hits in the game — 10 of them home runs, which is a single-game high so far for the District 42 champions. Eleven of the team’s 13 players have now hit a home run in an all-star game.
Sweetwater Valley blasted in front 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning as Antonio Andrade homered on a 3-1 count, Levi Mendez followed with a first-pitch home run to double the SVLL lead to 2-0. Walker Lannom then doubled and came home on a triple by Dante Schmid, the starting pitcher. Schmid then came home on a single by Ari Armas.
Sweetwater Valley led, 7-0, after two innings.
Mendez hit his second home run of the game to make the score 5-0. Nate Nankil followed with a double, moved to third base on a sacrifice fly by Walker and scored on a wild pitch to up the score to 6-0 in Sweetwater Valley’s favor.
Back-to-back doubles by Jake Baptista and Schmid raised the SVLL lead to 7-0.
Rancho San Diego advanced to the section championship game after eliminating Calexico, 9-6, in the challenger bracket final on July 16.
Rancho San Diego put a dent in the SVLL lead in the top of the third inning on a three-run home run by Mario Johnson. However, Sweetwater Valley still led 7-3.
The District 42 champions pounced all over RSD pitching in the bottom of the third inning to essentially put the game out of reach. The frame featured six home runs by Sweetwater Valley, including four consecutive.
Braiz Ramirez homered to put SVLL ahead 8-3. Mark Cervantes singled and was replaced by a pinch runner prior to a second home run in the game by Andrade. Sweetwater Valley led 10-3 but the fireworks were just starting in the inning.
Mendez hit his third home run of the game: 11-3 SVLL. Nankil followed with a home run: 12-3 SVLL. Walker hit a home run: 13-3 SVLL.
Count ’em up: that’s four consecutive home runs!
Baptista doubled and came around on a home run by Isaac Artalejo: 15-3 SVLL.
All this came about without an out recorded yet in the explosive inning.
Andrade came to the plate again in the frame and his line shot knocked the glove off the shortstop trying to stop it.
Braeden Ross countered with a grand slam home run in the top of the fourth inning for RSD, but it was not nearly enough.
Ahead 15-7, Sweetwater Valley ended yet another game by the 10-run mercy rule. A pair of singles in the bottom of the fourth inning set the stage for Schmid’s dramatic game-ending, section-winning homer.
Celebration — or was in pandemonium? — promptly ensued when Schmid circled the base paths to finally touch home plate.
It was another monstrous effort by Sweetwater Valley.
Sweetwater Valley advances to the Southern California-South Sub-Division III tournament that starts Saturday, July 25, at Ladera Ranch Little League. Sweetwater Valley plays the Section 9 winner at 11 a.m.
The five-team double-elimination tournament also includes champions from Section 6 (Encinitas), Section 8 and Section 10. The sub-division championship game is scheduled Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m.
District 31 champion Encinitas defeated District 70 champion Rancho Buena Vista, 3-1, in Monday’s California Section 6 championship game at Escondido National Little League to advance as the second team from San Diego County to attend this weekend’s sub-division tournament.
Sweetwater Valley advanced as far as the SoCal-South Sub-Division III tournament last year before dropping games to Encinitas Little League and 2011 Little League World Series champion Ocean View Little League.
Encinitas defeated Ocean View, 9-6, to win last year’s SoCal-South Sub-Division III title and then went on to defeat Long Beach in the Southern California Division III championship series to represent Southern California in the West Region finals in 2014.
West Region champion Mountain Ridge (Las Vegas) Little League was declared the 2014 LLWS U.S. champion after Great Lakes region Jackie Robinson West was retroactively forced to forfeit all its games due to the use of ineligible players from outside the Chicago area.
But the elder Lannom will say there’s still a lot of baseball to be played before anyone can even start talking about a trip to South Williamsport, Pa. However, the LLWS remains the destination that everyone on both sides of the diamond keeps shooting for.
“For me, I have witnessed a lot of firsts in all-star play,” the SVLL manager said. “This team is putting out incredible numbers. However, each section we advance through it gets tougher.
“Our 12U team made it to last year’s sub-division tournament. We won the first game against Ocean View and then lost to Ocean View and Encinitas, which went on to represent Southern California at West Region — season over.
“This is a funny game — one day you’re hot and the next you’re not. You have to be good, but there is a luck element that goes along with it. As impressive as the numbers are, they reset each game.
“However, our work ethic is there and the players have responded. Out of 38 days we have taken four off. The players want to be on the field and our parents get them there. So far, this has been a complete team effort.
“Next stop Ladera Ranch.”
Championship game home runs
(Sweetwater Valley Little League)
Levi Mendez 3, Antonio Andrade 2, Nate Nankil 1, Walker Lannom 1, Dante Schmid 1, Isaac Artalejo 1, Braiz Ramirez 1
CALIFORNIA SECTION 7 CHAMPIONSHIPS
District 42 champions sweep California Section 7 openers
All three newly-minted California District 42 Little League champions won their opening games in the California Section 7 tournament that started earlier this week.
In fact, Sweetwater Valley’s 12U team did even better by winning its opening two games to advance to Friday’s section championship game.
Chula Vista American’s 11U all-star team defeated District 22 champion Calexico, 13-5, in Wednesday’s section opener at the CV American LL complex, joining District 41 champion Rancho San Diego in Thursday’s winners bracket final after RSD run-ruled District 66 champion Valley de Oro 15-5.
Sweetwater Valley’s 12U all-stars opened section play with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over District 66 champion Lemon Grove Tuesday at West Hills Little League and continued their hot streak by defeating District 41 champion Rancho San Diego, 20-5, in Wednesday’s winners bracket final at Fletcher Hills Little League.
SVLL slammed six home runs in the opening inning to lead 10-0 in Wednesday’s winners bracket encounter.
Meanwhile, Sweetwater Valley’s 10U all-stars topped District 66 champion Valley de Oro, 14-7, in Tuesday’s section opener at Spring Valley Little League to advance to Friday’s winners bracket final against District 41 champion Cajon de Oro.
Highlight reel
Kyle Chapman’s two-run home run in the first inning boosted CV American to an early 2-0 lead over Calexico. CVA went up 7-3 on the strength of a five-run third inning and tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth inning to zoom in front 11-3. The teams then traded two runs each in the two innings.
CV American sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning, trying the game on a bases-loaded walk to Aaron DeCasas, scoring two runs on wild pitches, another on a double steal and one run on a RBI-single by Christian Lizarraga.
Bret Leonhardt and DeCasas each were credited with two-run RBI singles in the fifth inning uprising while Kellin Ince and Leonhardt each picked up RBI singles in the sixth inning.
DeCasas, the second of five CVA pitchers in the game, picked up the win.
“We had a lot of base hits and aggressive base running,” CVA manager Javier Aguirre explained. “I think because of our aggressive base running that we put pressure on their pitcher and defense.”
Sweetwater Valley’s 12U all-stars — er, wrecking crew — continued to pound opponents with the long ball.
Antonio Andrade hit two homers in the first inning alone, including the first on the first pitch of the game, and added another homer in the third inning for three for the night. Dante Schmid hit a grand slam homer in the first inning and capped the SVLL scoring parade with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Ari Armas, Preston Fleming and Levi Mendez also hit solo home runs in the first inning run explosion.
Braiz Ramirez and Jake Baptista also contributed to the SVLL scoring parade with two-run triples.
Sweetwater Valley hit eight home runs in the game and now has hit 31 home runs in six games while out-scoring its opponents 109-6. The District 42 champions have only allowed 10 hits in six games. Andrade and Mendez each pitched two innings on Wednesday. They gave up a combined three hits.
All six games have ended after four innings due to the mercy rule.
“The rally monkey, Stars & Stripes, continues to work,” SVLL manager Ward Lannom said.
Rancho SD’s win in the 11U section opener also featured standout hitting. Paolo Medina hit a grand slam home run in the first inning to help power the Dawgs to an early 5-0 advanrtage while Wyatt Laub hit a walk-off two-run shot to end the game by virtue of the 10-run mercy rule.
Laub started the game, with Ethan Heider earning the win in relief. Weston Clark scored three runs for RSD in the blowout win.
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 42 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sweetwater Valley slams opponents to claim District 42 Little League banner
Sweetwater Valley sewed up this year’s district championship by defeating Park View 14-0. Prior to that, SVLL pummeled Imperial Beach, 18-0, in the winners bracket final on July 9 after opening tourney play with 28-0 and 19-1 victories against Chula Vista American and Park View, respectively.
All four Sweetwater Valley games ended with mercy-rule victories after four innings.
Antonio Andrade led off Saturday’s championship 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.
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.
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.
The terrorizing run to the district championship took everyone’s breath away, including team members.
“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.”
Sweetwater Valley continues to tower over 12U all-star Little League competition
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.
Sweetwater Valley is off to monstrous start in Little League all-star play
Was it 27-0 or 28-0? There is some minor disagreement on the final score of Sweetwater Valley’s shell-lacking of Chula Vista American in the teams’ opening game of the District 42 Little League All-Star tournament last Thursday at the CVALL fields at Hilltop Middle School.
Suffice it to say, it was a lot to a little and many at that point picked Sweetwater Valley as the next behemoth to emerge from South County to challenge for a berth in the Little League World Series.
That’s still a long way down the road to Williamsport. But many are still picking this year’s 12U SVLL team to make some noise before all is said and done.
Sweetwater Valley improved to 2-0 in all-star play after thumping Park View, 19-1, in Monday’s second-round match-up, also played at CVALL.
Dante Schmid started the opening game against Chula Vista American and also hit one home run. Nathan Nankil, who hit one of his team’s seven home runs in the win over CVA, homered twice in Monday’s game against Park View.
In two games thus far, Sweetwater Valley has outscored its opponents 47-1 with pitchers Dante Schmid, Antonio Andrade and Levi Mendez having combined to allow four hits.
By contrast, SVLL has rapped out 44 hits in the two games.
Manager Ward Lannom pointed out that 12 of those hits have been home runs from seven different players. Seven four-baggers came in the opening win over Chula Vista American and five more against Park View.
Andrade hit one home run against CV American and two against Park View, Mendez hit one home run against Park View, Nankil hit one home run against CVA and two against Park View, Walker Lannom hit one home run against CVA, Schmid hit one home run against CVA, Ari Armas hit two home runs against CVA and Cameron Barbabosa hit one home run against CVA.
Sweetwater Valley advances to Thursday’s winners bracket final against Imperial Beach (7-5 winners over Luckie Waller on Monday). Game time is 7 p.m. at Imperial Beach Little League.
Thursday’s Sweetwater Valley-Imperial Beach winner reserves a berth in Saturday’s district championship game at the Sweetwater Valley Little League complex. The banner game is slated for an 11 a.m. start.
Both Park View and Luckie Waller remain in contention in the challenger bracket along with Southwest and Chula Vista American following Tiesday’s elimination games.
The challenger bracket final is Friday at 5:30 p.m. at SVLL to determine the final participant in Saturday’s championship game.
“Hopefully, there’s lots of baseball left,” the elder Lannom said. “The numbers above are impressive, but mean nothing as we are now focused on our next opponent. Like I told our parents at the beginning of All-Stars, ‘one game at a time … next stop, Imperial Beach.'”
10 and Oh!
Sweetwater Valley’s 10U all-star squad improved to 2-0 in district tournament play after defeating Eastlake, 6-0, in Monday’s second-round game at CVALL. Sweetwater Valley had previously topped Chula Vista American, 14-8, in last Thursday’s tournament opener.
Sweetwater Valley might not have known quite what to expect after Eastlake had ransacked Park View. 18-2, in its opener. But Glen Huggins pitched a gem of a game against Eastlake to quell doubts. He went five innings, giving up a dribbler in front of third base in the first inning and a liner that just evaded the glove of the third baseman later in the game. Huggins was in a nice groove and handed over the shutout to Nico Libed, who got the final three outs to end the game.
Sweetwater Valley advances to play Imperial Beach in the winners bracket final Thursday at 6 p.m. at IBLL.
Note: Rodney Regala contributed to this story
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
