Little League Stars Advance to Regionals

Moorpark’s all-star team has moved a step closer to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after beating a team from La Puente on Sunday in the final game of the Southern California Finals in La Mirada.

Sunday’s 12-10 win over La Puente was Moorpark’s second victory against the highly ranked opponent during the eight-day, double-elimination tournament. It clinched the Section 2 California Championship for Moorpark, making it the top team in the region that ranges from Paso Robles south to the Mexican border. Moorpark also defeated La Puente, 4-3, on July 30.

On Thursday, the best Little League players from Moorpark travel to San Bernardino, where they will face a Utah team at 8 p.m. during the first game of the Western Regional Championships, a nine-day competition among 14 teams from Colorado west to the Pacific Ocean.

Winners in four regionals will go on to face their eastern counterparts at the American Championships in Williamsport later this month, the all-American precursor to the Little League World Series, which follows.

During Sunday’s final game, Moorpark fell behind La Puente 8-2 in the second inning but staged a seven-run rally, capped off by a grand slam by 12-year-old Erik Johnson.

The victory was a dramatic comeback for Moorpark, which had lost 6-4 to La Puente on Saturday--its only defeat in the tournament.

During the tournament, Moorpark also defeated teams from Chula Vista and Mission Viejo.