Another prodigious power performance has sent the Park View Little League All-Stars to the Little League World Series. The kids from Chula Vista set the tone in the first inning with two homeruns, then broke open a 3-3 tie in the 5th with five runs, overpowering the Lakeside All-Stars from Granite Bay 11-4 to win the West Regional Championship.
Kiko Garcia, who put on a Ruthian power display that is already legendary in Southern California Little League annals, launched a two-run homer to right field in the first inning, giving Chula Vista a 3-0 lead. The homer came against Lakeside ace Mitch Hart, who had stated on Saturday that Park View “hadn’t faced good pitching yet”. Hart was solid on the mound after allowing two longballs in the first, but found out right away that Park View isn’t your average team.
Lakeside battled back and tied the game on a steal of home in the 3rd. The game remained tied until the 5th inning, when Hart fell victim to the Little League-mandated pitch count of 85. Once Hart left, the Park View kids took advantage of four walks, an Oscar Castro two-run single off the right-field fence, and a handful of fielding misplays to take an 8-3 lead.
Luke Ramirez, the Chula Vista 6′2″ behemoth of a cleanup hitter, delivered the emphatic moment of the championship in the 6th when he launched a two-run homer deep over the center field fence, the tents, the crowd, and possibly the county line. Kiko Garcia followed with his second homer of the game and 12th of the regionals, making it 11-4.
The Park View kids will be heading home tonight before making their plans for Williamsport. We will have more coverage later tonight on 619Sports.Net, including pictures from tonight’s championship and postgame interviews.
