Aliso Viejo Turned Into “The Aidan Skinner Show”
- Updated: July 26, 2018
(Aidan Skinner of Chula Vista’s Park View Little League celebrates with third-base coach Jorge Camarillo during Skinner’s home run trot, after “ChaChing”, as he is called, blasted a third-inning pinch-hit three-run dinger Tuesday to lead The Green Monsters to another monster victory, 6-0, at Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Aidan Skinner Show starring Aidan Skinner, the latest in a parade of RBI sensations to emerge on The Green Monsters from Park View Little League of Chula Vista. Skinner has turned the 2018 Little League Southern California Championship tournament hosted by Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo into his own highlight reel, leading The Green Monsters to victory in each of their tournament games held there so far.
Skinner’s name is now found on the land deed to that Aliso Viejo real estate, as “ChaChing” as he is called for being born in Las Vegas, has absolutely owned that South Orange County ballpark, by batting 1000, with a pinch hit three-run homer, a pinch-hit two-run double, and driving in a total of five RBIs in his two at bats! He is now the mayor of Aliso Viejo. In fact, people do not realize this, but Aliso Viejo in Spanish translates as “Pinch-hitters’ paradise.” But, now my readers know because they follow CaliSports News, SoCal’s undisputed leader in Little League coverage.
How is that kid not playing in the starting line-up? Park View needs Skinner to receive more at bats. At this point, it is a crime to deny him a starting position. This Green Monster fan says create a spot for him. If the coaching staff cannot figure out how to squeeze ChaChing into the line-up, then it should call me on the phone, and I will offer suggestions. The RBI kid is on fire right now, and we are talking major inferno. Skinner scorched that Aliso Viejo town. Rescue workers evacuated homes for 20 square miles. Yeah, that type of being on fire. Dude is hot. Play him. Do it for Rabbi Rabbs. New hashtag: #FreeSkinner.
In any event, when the sun rises on Friday morning, only three teams will remain alive in their quest to be crowned the 2018 Southern California Little League champion. We now know who two of those three will be, and one of those two is Skinner’s Green Monsters. Let’s Go Skinner !! Let’s Go ChaChing !! Let’s Go Green Monsters !!
Now, let me walk us through the tournament starting from its opening day in the following segment which I shall term, “Rabbi Rabbs’ Aliso Viejo diary”:
Sat., Jul. 21:
(Come to Ogre Battle! And could those players look any more bad A-s? Beautiful artwork courtesy of San Carlos Little League in San Diego.)
Hyped as the “Ogre Battle of San Diego County“, Chula Vista’s Park View Little League defeated its cross-county opponent, San Carlos Little League of San Diego, 3-1, behind the phenomenal pitching of The Green Monsters’ ace, José Mendoza. “Guero”, as Mendoza is called, improved his perfect record on the mound this summer to 4-0, that day reaching his 85-pitch maximum with two outs remaining in the sixth and final inning. Guero stepped off the mound with an 89-pitch, two-hit shutout, and seven strikeouts. Batting against San Carlos’ much-heralded excellent pitching staff, Park View had needed Mendoza to throw one of his complete game shutouts, or something close to it, to assure itself of a victory. And, the young fire baller delivered right on cue.
Guero has proven himself to be one of the most dominant and consistent pitchers in Southern California, and perhaps in the country. I am not simply referring to Little League. We might be hard-pressed to find even a Major League Baseball overpaid professional putting up Wee Dough’s numbers.
The Monsters rallied that day for their three runs in the third inning, led by Skinner’s pinch-hit two-run double in which he took third base on the throw to the plate. Although, some Green Monsters have called ChaChing’s RBI blast a triple. I shall let the readers decide.
“I had wanted to make the most of my one at bat,” Skinner explained about his Saturday heroics to CSN following Tuesday’s game. “I was looking for a good pitch to hit. I saw it, recognized which pitch it was, and drove it. It felt really good to be able to give us the lead.”
Sun., Jul. 22:
Your favorite crazy rabbi blogger attended San Carlos’ game, while rocking my new San Carlos free t-shirt that the wonderful parents of that league had generously furnished, and I cheered for their team. Big thanks to the San Carlos community. I had a great time hanging out with those beautiful people that made this District 42 fan feel so welcomed.
I cannot imagine that happening in the NHL. I cannot envision the day after my Anaheim Ducks would defeat the San Jose Sharks, that Sharks fans would invite this Ducks fan to sit with them at a game in San Jose. That is one of the many reasons that makes Little League special, and so much more appealing than pro sports. And, hey, I get to cover Little League. I have the greatest job in the whole wide world.
(Rabbi Rabbs rocks his new San Carlos Little League t-shirt while cheering for that league’s team on Sun., Jul. 22, at Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo. From left to right, San Carlos’ Eddy Gomez, Gomez’s mother’s boyfriend Dennis White holding Gomez’s younger brother, Eli Gomez, and San Carlos’ crazy uncle. Eddy was San Carlos’ starting pitcher, and performed well on Sunday, going 4 1/3 innings, and left the mound with a 4-3 lead that held up until the bottom of the sixth and final inning. Photo courtesy of Marsi Valderrama.)
Tue., Jul. 24:
I attended the Park View game, and sat with The Green Momsters, as their team squared off against El Segundo Little League of El Segundo. I very much enjoy sitting with Park View’s fans. Chula Vista Little League parents are consistently among the nicest people I have ever met, and this crazy uncle has fallen in love with this year’s Park View baseball family. At Tuesday’s game, that league even gave to me a free Park View pin.
Incidentally, that El Segundo league’s ballpark sits less than two miles away from Toyota Sports Center, where this NHL writer has attended countless times to watch the Los Angeles Kings practice, attend a preseason game between the Kings and Ducks, and where I have often gone ice skating during public sessions.
NPR even interviewed me at TSC prior to the start of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, in which I was identified as one of “a few die-hard fans, including Rabbi Hershel Remer“. Yeah, that’s me. Click on that link to read the transcript from that nation-wide radio broadcast. I bet my NHL editor is now reading that in a complete state of shock, and will immediately share this latest Little League article with his myriads of Kings fans.
Getting back on topic, this “Los Angeles native” had a blast as The Green Monsters shut out the boys from the town that hosts the Kings’ training facility, 6-0, behind another incredible pitching performance from Kainoa Baptista. In Island Prime’s first start on the hill since becoming famous after my feature article about that youngster had gone viral last week, the 12-year-old sensation who grew up with the nickname of “Baby Giraffe” absolutely smoked El Segundo.
Baby Giraffe changed the name of his opposing team to El SeGONEdo, by delivering an 88-pitch, complete game shutout, in which he recorded eight strikeouts, never walked anybody, and spread out El SeGONEdo’s six hits over six innings. Island Prime was simply masterful on the mound. He is eligible to pitch again on Sunday should The Green Monsters play in that “if necessary” game for the SoCal Championship, and the Monsters’ crazy uncle says if Park View plays that day, do it! Start Baptista. Do it for Rabbi Rabbs.
In any event, Baptista performed brilliantly in his first start since becoming an overnight Internet icon, proving the spotlight only made him play better. This CSN writer shall take some credit for that, as Tuesday night’s outing might have been Island Prime’s best pitching performance ever.
Incidentally, when Baby Giraffe is not focused on baseball, he is often reportedly found skate boarding. Also, few know this, but his favorite MLB player is the LA Angels’ Mike Trout, because that superstar signed an autograph for the young Baptista.
Island Prime received major run support Tuesday, led by Skinner’s third-inning three-run homer to left field that ChaChing hit so hard that authorities had to immediately clear all vehicles from California State Route 73 just in case Skinner’s blast landed on that adjacent highway. Skinner is not only strong with the bat, but has demonstrated an extremely high baseball IQ. His IQ is so high that it is off the charts. Just read what he told me after that game:
“While I was sitting in the dugout, watching the opposing pitcher, I noticed that with two strikes on the batters he faced, he had a tendency to throw curves. So, when I got my at bat, I again wanted to make the most of it. I had two strikes on me, and I knew the next pitch would either be a curve ball or not down the middle. I was looking for that pitcher’s curve ball. He threw it. It was hanging, and I drove it,” Skinner explained. Where did Park View even find that kid? And again, how is he not in the starting lineup?
(Rabbi Rabbs interviews Aidan Skinner of Chula Vista’s Park View Little League following The Green Monsters’ victory on Tuesday at Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Baptista also received tremendous defensive support. Atticus “Double Deuce” Gates made a series of huge throws from third base on ground balls to nail the runners every time at first. Only one pitch reportedly got behind catcher Joseph “Joe Man” Anderson during the entire game, which is practically unheard of in Little League. Mendoza and Michael “Big Mike” Rodríguez each made pretty catches on the run in the outfield.
With the victory, Park View is now a perfect 9-0 this summer, and has outscored its opponents in Aliso Viejo by a combined total of 9-1, making The Green Monsters by far the most dominant of the remaining teams in the tournament.
“Our team has been working together for a long time,” Skinner said. “We want to go far in this tournament.”
Meanwhile, one field over, yet another Los Angeles County league, Temple City National Little League of Temple City, upset Huntington Beach’s Huntington Valley Little League, 4-1, by scoring three huge runs in the seventh inning, each of which this CSN writer had witnessed first-hand after finishing his interview with Skinner.
On Thursday, Park View will face Temple City in the winners’ bracket final, with that game’s winner advancing to Saturday’s SoCal championship. Until then, stay tuned !!
And that concludes “Rabbi Rabbs’ Aliso Viejo diary”. Any questions?
(Makai Corpuz, a.k.a. “Big Mac”, of Chula Vista’s Park View Little League. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to thank Jamie Serrano, Park View’s Facebook page admin who has been forced to deal far too many mornings with CSN’s prolific blogger constantly badgering that Chula Vista league to share his latest articles. Jamie has been nothing but cooperative, courteous, and awesome this entire summer, despite my articles’ obvious biases back in May through early July towards Sweetwater Valley Little League of Bonita, and Eastlake Little League of Chula Vista.
Nevertheless, Park View shared my articles on its Facebook wall even back then more often than did either of those other two leagues. That is a fact. Park View even changed its Facebook page’s settings to make life simpler for CSN to promote its Little League articles featuring The Green Monsters. Park View has proven to be CSN’s greatest Facebook ally this summer, and so much of that is due to Jamie.
Although, lately the Facebook page of California District 42 has been absolutely fantastic, as it too shares all of my articles relevant to that district, and has served as a tremendous resource for photos. That is due to District 42’s page admin, tireless photographer (who snaps approximately 136,000 photos per day of that district’s teams, as Sweetwater Valley’s 11-year-olds and Eastlake’s 10s each won their Section 7 title, and Jon has photographed both teams along their way), and all-around good guy Jon Bigornia who on Tuesday night gave to Rabbi Rabbs a couple of District 42 pins, and who must deal with daily requests phoned in from this crazy rabbi asking for photos to be taken of specific kids doing specific things.
For instance, I had wanted a photo of Skinner belting Saturday’s game-winning double, but Jon had attended a family event that day, so the District 42 photographer did not have pics available. So, I kindly asked Jon to please take photos of Skinner batting at the next game, and let me know when they would be online. And Jon made that happen. Jon and Rabbs have worked great together as a team this summer. Go team! And wouldn’t you know? While Jon was snapping Skinner’s at bat, ChaChing delivered an even more impressive three-run homer! How about that, ladies and gentlemen? CSN and District 42 were ready and waiting for that money shot. Skinner could not have hit that ball at a better time, as Jon and I had already put the spotlight on that kid’s at bat.
(Aidan Skinner belts a three-run homer Tuesday night at Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo, and CSN was ready to capture him doing so for this article. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
Photographing the Three-Headed Monster is not an easy gig, as the monster seems to continually send its 12s, 11s, and 10s deep into late July, with games spread out across the Southland.
Also, regarding Jamie, when she is not handling Park View’s social media, she is often busy helping my good friend Kim Fleeson who is in charge of that league’s refreshment stand, and who has become one of this Little League blogger’s biggest fans, and Kim’s assistant manager, Kellie Suiter.
So, ladies and gentlemen of the wonderful Park View community, please put your hands together and give it up for Jamie and Jon !! Especially for last week when CSN had gone full-manic, spitting out articles faster than Mendoza’s fast ball. Thank you, Jamie! Thank you, Jon! You both rock !!
Let’s Go SoCal !!
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4 Comments
About Rabbi Rabbs
Ramon
July 27, 2018 at 12:35 am
I have really enjoyed this coverage, Rabbi Rabbs.
ramon
Rabbi Rabbs
July 27, 2018 at 5:17 am
Ramon, thank you for reading my articles, and for your positive feedback. Much appreciated. So glad you enjoyed it.
Jackie Skinner
July 28, 2018 at 8:49 am
Thank you so very much for your articles on Park View Green Monsters and especially on our Grandson Aidan Skinner. We have been out of the country for this tournament and your articles have made us laugh and cry. Keep up the good work!
🤗Grandma Jackie Skinner
Rabbi Rabbs
July 30, 2018 at 8:59 am
Awww, thank you so much for your kind words, and for taking the time to provide your feedback. So glad you like what my articles, and for your support.