The Road to the Little League World Series has ended for California District 41 champion Lakeside National and California District 66 champion Las Palmas after both 12U teams failed to advance beyond this year’s California Section 7 championship tournament.
Tournament play began on July 13 and concluded July 17 at three playing sites: Sweetwater Sports complex in Spring Valley (10U), Alpine American Little League (11U) and Lakeside National Little League (12U).
Fletcher Hills Little League advanced to the 10U Division final, losing in a double-elimination playoff game,10-3, to Sweetwater Valley while Alpine American finished runner-up in the 11U Division championship game following a 13-3 setback to Sweetwater Valley.
Sweetwater Valley made it a three-for-three championship sweep by topping Las Palmas, 27-2, in the 12U final.
The three Sweetwater Valley teams advanced to the Southern California state championship tournament, the final destination for the 10U and 11U age groups, and one step away from the Little League World Series West Region tournament.
Fletcher Hills, which defeated Santee National for the District 41 title, played five games in the section tournament. The District 41 champions dropped Road to the Little League World Series ends their opening game, 9-7, to Sweetwater Valley before storming back with three consecutive wins to force a double elimination game.
Fletcher Hills defeated District 66 champion Valley de Oro, 11-1, and District 22 champion Calexico, 10-4, to draw a rematch with the District 42 champions, defeating Sweetwater Valley by a score of 10-3 to remain in contention for the section championship and a potential trip to the state tournament.
But Sweetwater Valley reversed the score, winning 10-3, to finish as tournament champions.
The sectional field included four teams — champions from District 22, District 41, District 42 and District 66.
Alpine American gave a promising showing to follow in the footsteps of last year’s 12U section championship team with victories over District 22 champion Yuma (2-1 score) and District 66 champion Lemon Grove (10-9 score).
But the Alpine team couldn’t match the firepower that Sweetwater Valley brought to the field in dropping 16-2 and 13-3 decisions to the District 42 champions.
The 12U Division leads to South Williamsport, Pa. Sweetwater Valley remained on the road to the 2024 Little League World Series with a clean sweep of its three games in the section field.
Sweetwater Valley faced off the four-team get-together with a commanding 12-0 victory against District 22 champion Brawley and followed with a tight 1-0 victory against Lakeside National, which had doubled up District 66 champion Las Palmas, 12-6, in the opening round.
Las Palmas eliminated Brawley by a score of 7-6 and topped Lakeside National by a 6-5 tally to draw the Sweetwater Valley juggernaut in the championship game.
Sweetwater Valley won by 25 runs in four innings. East County teams were a bit more successful in the older age divisions.
Santee National defeated Alpine to win the Section 7 Intermediate 50/70 Division banner to advance to the Southern California state tournament.
Lemon Grove/Spring Valley won the Senior Division title to advance to the Southern California tournament.
However, neither team advanced beyond that point.
The District 66 champion Lemon Grove 10U girls softball team advanced all the way to the Southern California championship tournament – the farthest point reached since 2013.
Regardless of the outcome for the respective teams, players will always remember their accomplishments.
