California District 42 crowned its annual Tournament of Champions winners Tuesday at Imperial Beach Little League. Sweetwater Valley Little League captured banners in the 6-Under/Pitch Machine and Majors divisions while Park View Little League captured banners in the 8-Under and Minors divisions.
District 42 Administrator Ernie Lucero said this year’s TOC games were a success due “to all the dedicated volunteers from the host leagues from Eastlake, Chula Vista American, Sweetwater Valley and Imperial Beach Little Leagues to our District 42 umpires.”
Lucero noted that all the South County Little Leagues participated this year.
“Our 6-under and 8-under tournament games were the most attended games during our tournament,” he said. “It was fun watching our little kids compete in a wholesome environment. I know they had fun.
“The players who played TOC represented their individual leagues with great pride giving us adults a joy to watch. I want to thank all the managers and coaches for their dedication this season and especially the parents for signing up their children to play Little League Baseball, which is now in its 76th year.”
Sweetwater Valley was represented in three of the four TOC finals Tuesday, with its 8U team recording a second place finish. Sweetwater Valley also advanced as far as the semifinals in the Minors Division.
Park View also had three finalists and four semifinalists. Park View recorded a runner-up finish in Tuesday’s 6U championship game to Sweetwater Valley. Park View dropped an 8-0 decision to Imperial Beach in Sunday’s Majors semifinals.
SVLL Majors manager David Blackinton called winning this year’s TOC banner “a proud moment for the coaching staff.”
“The kids worked hard throughout the tournament,” Blackinton explained. “They worked through some adversity in a couple of games. They learned what it is like to be part of a team and to play as a team. They learned that everyone on a team has roles to play, and they learned how to play those roles.”
The SVLL team went undefeated in TOC play with a 4-0 record. The team outscored its opponents 39-7.
Three players hit home runs during the tournament while another cracked a grand slam. David Blackinton III, Ryan Moss and Rocco Gurrola each slammed homers while Enrique Resendez hit the grand slam.
Resendez and Gurrola each picked up two wins apiece on the pitching mound. Gurrola pitched a complete game on Tuesday, allowing just one home run to Imperial Beach.
A bases-clearing triple by Moss in Tuesday’s championship contest proved to be the catalyst for Sweetwater Valley.
“We were up 3-1 at that time and suddenly it was 6-1,” the elder Blackinton said. “We later added another run to win 7-1.”
SVLL’s 6U team dropped its first tournament game by a score of 9-2 to Eastlake but then championed back to win its next three games. SVLL defeated Eastlake, 7-1, in the semifinals to make amends for its earlier loss and then topped Park View, 8-0, in Tuesday’s title game.
“It’s always a challenge when you’re dealing with kids who are 6 league age and one as young as 5,” SVLL 6U manager Ray Muro explained. “You have two weeks to form a team with kids who had never played together before. It’s a challenge to get that chemistry going and learn how to play as a team.
“It was really fun watching the team develop from that first game and watching them come back to win the tournament. It meant a lot to the coaches, myself and the kids.”
The SVLL team was comprised of players from the league’s Minor-B and Caps divisions.
The 6U division also uses a pitching machine, which Muro said “adds a different element to the game.”
Next up
Attention now turns to the annual All-Star tournaments and the road to Williamsport. Tournament play begins on Thursday, July 2, and wraps up with championship games in the 10U, 11U and 12U divisions July 11 at the Sweetwater Valley Little League complex.
District 42 made history in 2009 when its Park View Blue Bombers won the Little League World Series championship. The league scored a rare double in 2013 when Eastlake Little League captured the LLWS U.S. division champions.
Is there another Park View or Eastlake LLWS-caliber team lurking among this year’s district entrants? It will be fun to find out.
“My hope is that whoever represents Southern California at the Western Region tournament in San Bernardino will come from San Diego County, and especially the South County,” Lucero offered.
Lucero said District 42 is hoping for the trifecta — Parkview in 2009, Eastlake in 2013 and an as-yet-undetermined team in 2015.
Teams vying for a trip to the Little League World Series come from the 12U division. At the local level, they include teams representing Park View, Chula Vista National, Chula Vista American, Sweetwater Valley, Eastlake, Luckie Waller, Imperial Beach and Southwest Little Leagues.
Teams play a double-elimination format in all divisions.
The 12U winners bracket final is scheduled July 9 at Imperial Beach Little League while the 12U challenger bracket final is scheduled July 10 at Sweetwater Valley Little League.
The 11U winners bracket final is scheduled July 6 at Chula Vista American Little League while the 11U challenger bracket final is scheduled July 9 at Imperial Beach Little League.
The 10U winners bracket final is scheduled July 9 at Imperial Beach Little League while the 10U challenger bracket final is scheduled July 10 at Southwest Little League.
Eight teams are entered in the 10U division: Eastlake, Park View, Chula Vista American, Sweetwater Valley, Southwest, Chula Vista National, Imperial Beach and Luckie Waller.
Four teams are entered in the 11U division: Sweetwater Valley, Chula Vista American, Park View and Eastlake.
The Junior Division championship series will be played at Eastlake Little League between Luckie Waller and Eastlake. The best-of-three series starts Monday, July 6, and continues Tuesday, July 7. If a deciding third game is necessary, it will be played Wednesday, July 8. All games are scheduled at 5 p.m.
The Senior Division tournament wrapped up June 25 as Southwest defeated Luckie Waller two games to one in the teams’ best-of-three championship series.
Southwest Little League wrapped up season play on June 27 after being eliminated in the Section 7 tournament played at Spring Valley Little League.
For updates, visit the website at www.eteamz.com/cad42.
California District 42
Tournament of Champions
Championship Games
Tuesday at Imperial Beach Little League
6U Division
Sweetwater Valley 8, Park View 0
8U Division
Park View 13, Eastlake 3
Minors Division
Park View 10, Sweetwater Valley 3
Majors Division
Sweetwater Valley 7, Imperial Beach 1
District 42 TOC
Parade of Champions
Sweetwater Valley Little League
MAJORS TOC champions
Manager: Dave Blackinton
Coaches: Jose Dominguez and Brandon Gregg
Players: Andrew Alejandre, Nevin Baclig, Evan Besker, David Blackinton, Sean Dunmire, Rocco Gurrola, Kyle Gregg, Nico Mazzei, Ryan Moss, Andrew Murphy, Jackson Reaksecker, Enrique Resendez, Steven Alec Sanchez
6-Under TOC champions
Manager: Ray Muro
Coaches: Todd Anderson, John Poukkula and Manny Lozano
Players: Jorge Bejar, Noah Cook, Sean Flemming, Dylan Hatton, Jackson Hernandez, Liam Hodson, Cole Margetts, Cash Pacini, Dylan Poukkula, Jose Rabago, Lorenzo Robles, Joseph Ryan, Max Tello
California District 42 Tournament of Champions
6U Division
Pool play
Monday, June 22
Eastlake 9, Sweetwater Valley 5 at Chula Vista American LL
South Bay 5, Chula Vista Nationa 3 at Chula Vista American LL
Tuesday, June 23
Eastlake 14, Southwest 1. at Chula Vista American LL
Park View 11, Chula Vista National 1 at Eastlake LL
Wednesday, June 24
South Bay 11, Chual Vista National 3 at Chula Vista American LL
Thursday, June 25
Sweetwater Valley 6, Chula Vista American 3 at Chula Vista American LL
Friday, June 26
Park View 5, Chula Vista American 2 at Chula Vista American LL
Semifinals
Sunday, June 28
Seed 2 vs. Seed 3, Park View 11, South Bay 2 at Eastlake LL
Seed 1 vs. Seed 4, Sweetwater Valley 7, Eastlake 1 at Chula Vista American LL
Championship game
Tuesday, June 30
Sweetwater Valley 8, Park View 0 at IBLL
8U Division
Pool play
Monday, June 22
Chula Vista American 20, Southwest 3. at Chula Vista American LL
Eastlake 19, Imperial Beach 9 at Imperial Beach LL
Tuesday, June 23
Park View 18, Luckie Waller 1 at Chula Vista American LL
Sweetwater Valley 20, Chula Vista National 0. at Chula Vista American LL
Thursday, June 25
Chula Vista National 9, South Bay 2. at Sweetwater Valley LL
Luckie Waller 13, Southwest 1 at Eastlake LL
Friday. June 26
Sweetwater Valley 11, Chula Vista American 7 at Sweetwater Valley LL
Park View 11, Imperial Beach 0 at Eastlake LL
Saturday, June 27
Eastlake 21, South Bay 0 at Eastlake LL
Semifinals
Sunday, June 28
Seed 2 vs. Seed 3, Eastlake 16, Sweetwater Valley 9 at Eastlake LL
Seed 1 vs. Seed 4, Park View 14, Chula Vista American 0 at Chula Vista American LL
Championship game
Tuesday, June 30
Park View 13, Eastlake 3 at Imperial Beach LL
Minor League
Pool play
Monday, June 22
Park View 19, Luckie Waller 5. at Eastlake LL
Chula Vista Americdan 13, South Bay 2 at Chula Vista American LL
Tuesday, June 23
Eastlake 11, Chula Vista National 0 at Eastlake LL
Imperial Beach vs. Southwest, 6 p.m. at Imperial Beach LL
Wednesday, June 24
Sweetwater Valley 10, Southwest 4 at Eastlake LL
Park View 8, Imperial Beach 1. at Eastlake LL
Thursday, June 25
Chula Vista American 11, Chula Vista National 0 at Chula Vista American LL
Eastlake18, Luckie Waller 1 at Eastlake LL
Friday, June 26
Sweetwater Valley 11,. South Bay 1 at Eastlake LL
Semifinals
Sunday, June 28
Seed 2 vs. Seed 3, Sweetwater Valley 10, Chula Vista American 1 at Eastlake LL
Seed 1 vs. Seed 4, Park View 8, Eastlake 3 at Chula Vista American LL
Championship game
Tuesday, June 30
Park View 10, Sweetwater Valley 3 at Imperial Beach LL
Major League
Pool play
Monday, June 22
Sweetwater Valley 8, Eastlake 2 at Eastlake LL
Tuesday, June 23
Imperial Beach 12, Chula Vista National 0 at Imperial Beach LL
Wednesday, June 24
Park View 10, Luckie Waller 0 at Chula Vista American LL
Southwest 25, South Bay 0 at Chula Vista American LL
Thursday, June 25
Chula Vista American 14, Eastlake 2 at Chula Vista American LL
Friday, June 26
Park View 12, Chula Vista National 11 at Chula Vista American LL
Sweetwater Valley 12, Chula Vista American 3. at Chula Vista American LL
Saturday, June 27
South Bay 8, Luckie Waller 6 at Eastlake LL
Imperial Beach 11, Southwest 6 at Eastlake LL
Semifinals
Sunday, June 28
Seed 2 vs. Seed 3, Imperial Beach 8, Park View 0 at Eastlake LL
Seed 1 vs. Seed 4, Sweetwater Valley 12,. Southwest 0 at Chula Vista American LL
Championship game
Tuesday. June 30
Sweetwater Valley 7, Imperial Beach 1 at Imperial Beach LL
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, Chula Vista American vs. Park View, 5:30 p.m.
Winner bracket final at Imperial Beach Little League, Sweetwater Valley vs. Imperial Beach, 7 p.m.
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater Valley Little League, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, 11 a.m.
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,Sweetwater Valley vs. Park View, 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, 10:30 a.m.
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, Sweetwater Valley vs. Imperial Beach, 6 p.m.
Challenger bracket game at Eastlake Little League, Eastlake vs. Southwest, 5 p.m.
Friday, July 10
Challenger bracket final at Sweetwater ValleyLittle League, 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
Championship game at Sweetwater Valley Little League, 10 a.m.
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 66 champions
Big League: Spring Valley Little League
Senior Division: Spring Valley Little League
Intermediate Division: Las Palmas Little League
