Eastlake Returns To Beast Mode, Remains Undefeated

By Rabbi Rabbs
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Updated: July 29, 2021

(Eastlake Little League all-stars celebrate after winning, Jul. 27. Photo by Rabbi Rabbs.)

Chula Vista’s Eastlake Little League all-stars turned up the heat in their incredible hot streak. In the Southern California Divisional tournament, Eastlake beat Villa Park Little League of Villa Park, 8-4, on Jul. 27. Fountain Valley Little League in Fountain Valley hosted. With the win, Eastlake’s boys improved their perfect record to 10-0. They earned a spot in an all-San Diego County semi-finals match-up. Today (Thursday), Eastlake faces San Carlos Little League of San Diego. The winner clinches a berth in the championship game to be held on Sat., Jul. 31.

Eastlake’s all-stars also guaranteed that when they wake up on Friday morning, they will be one of only three teams still competing for Southern California’s crown. I shall explain why. Currently, four leagues remain active in the tournament. While Eastlake plays against San Carlos, the other two remaining clubs shall face off against each other at Fountain Valley. Those two all-star teams represent Claremont Little League of Claremont, and Torrance Little League of Torrance.

And then there were three.

Eastlake beat both of those teams. The winner of the match between Claremont and Torrance shall play tomorrow against the loser of today’s all-San Diego contest. Meanwhile, the loser of the game between Claremont and Torrance shall be eliminated. Hence, regardless of what the San Diego teams do today, Eastlake and San Carlos will each remain alive tomorrow morning. Also, the winner of tomorrow’s contest will play in the championship. I hope that all makes sense.

Anyway, against Villa Park, Eastlake’s all-stars checked three important boxes. First, they won. Second, thanks to fantastic pitch-count management, every Eastlake player is eligible to pitch against San Carlos (according to my calculations). Hats off to Eastlake Manager Randy Whitney. He stayed on top of the pitch counts throughout the contest. When his pitchers reached count maximums, Whitney immediately yanked them from the mound. That turned the game into a team-pitching effort. And, Eastlake’s pitching staff showcased its incredible depth that night.

Beastlake.

Third, Eastlake survived the dreaded sixth inning without incident. As a result, I finished referring to that team as “The Cardiac Kids”. Instead, I shall now refer to the undefeated monster as “Beastlake”. Actually, I must give credit to where it is due. Eastlake’s fans invented that nickname. In fact, many of them wore spiffy baseball caps that rock that name. One of those awesome fans was gracious enough to provide a hat to CaliSports News. Here is a photo:

(Rabbi Rabbs in full Beastlake mode.
Photo by Rabbi Rabbs.)

Anyway, leading Beastlake to victory over Villa Park, Ethan Dang crushed a three-run homer to dead-centerfield in the third inning. Isaac Rodríguez added his own two-run blast over the leftfield fence in the sixth inning. Rodríguez’s shot sent the ball bouncing into a parking lot, directly towards a car pulling out of a parking spot. I am not sure if Isaac had aimed at that car or not, though. I do know that the ball he crushed rocketed over there in a hurry. That poor driver.

Eastlake bats explode.

Dang’s home run kicked off a six-run Beastlake outburst in the third inning. With bases loaded and two outs, Elias Gómez drove home a run with a single. Liam Lee followed by adding his second hit of the game, a two-run single. The second run that scored on Lee’s hit came thanks to speed on the base path. Andrew Nicolaus raced home from second base, and beat the throw.

Nico Sánchez, the hero of Beastlake’s prior game, with his game-winning homer, stayed hot. He doubled, hit a line-drive single that reached the fence, got hit by a pitch, and scored two runs.

Eastlake pitched by committee. Clutch bullpen efforts shined against Villa Park’s batters. In the first inning, Dang took the mound with two outs, and Villa Park runners at second and third. Dang immediately struck out the first batter he faced. And, he only threw four pitches. In the second inning, Dang retired the side, three up, and three down. In the third inning, Dang got replaced so that he can pitch against San Carlos. Dang exited the mound without allowing any hits.

Eastlake relief pitching on fire.

Myles Reyes replaced Dang with one out. Three pitches later, the inning was over. Reyes recorded two outs on only three pitches. In the fifth inning, Reyes got replaced so that he can pitch against San Carlos. Cody Moseman then took over the mound. He was lights out. His fastballs were absolute fire. Moseman’s high heat made fast work of Villa Park’s batters. He closed out the fifth inning, and finished the game on the mound in the sixth. During that time, the only Villa Park batter to reach base did so on an error. Other than that, Moseman was perfect.

It is worth noting that Moseman wields a cannon of a throwing arm. In the outfield that night, twice he fired rockets. Once from almost the fence in right field to the third baseman. That ball zipped across the field as if it were fired out of a high-pressure hose. The other time, he gunned the ball to his cut-off man, Rodríguez, playing first base. Isaac turned and fired the ball to his catcher, Sánchez. Nico tagged a sliding Villa Park runner for an incredible out. Impressive teamwork displayed. I might start referring to Moseman as “The Cannon”, because he throws like a cannon. Moseman also made a couple of diving catches in the outfield this summer.

Never too old to learn.

I learned a rule that night. Villa Park only dressed 11 players. I had thought the minimum might be 12. Nope. An official explained to CaliSports News that once a league signs an affidavit stating that 12 players are on the team, then all that team needs is nine players to show up for the games. Villa Park’s affidavit states 12 players. Thus, that team of 11 players was good to go. Incidentally, Eastlake only uses 12 players, even though its roster lists 13. That is because one of Eastlake’s all-stars, Christian “Chango” Whitney, remains sidelined on injured reserve.

(Eastlake celebrates after Isaac Rodríguez hit a homer, Jul. 27. Photo by Rabbi Rabbs.)

Beastlake is trying to become the third straight District 42 league to win a SoCal banner. Chula Vista’s Park View Little League won the crown in 2018, and Bonita’s Sweetwater Valley Little League won it last time, in 2019. District 42 teams have played in every Southern California championship game starting in 2015. And, Eastlake itself won the championship in 2013.

Park View’s triumvirate.

Eastlake is not the only District 42 team playing in beast mode. Park View’s 11-and-under all-stars continued their amazing hot streak. They remained undefeated this summer by beating Encinitas Little League of Encinitas, 12-9, in seven innings, on Jul. 27. Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo hosted. Park View plays tonight against West Los Angeles Little League of Los Angeles. The winner clinches a spot in the championship game scheduled for Sat., Jul. 31.

In my prior article, District 42 Hot In Three Divisions, District 56 Takes Two Others, I wrote that Park View’s 10-and-unders would face the winner of a game between Temecula Little League of Temecula and Fontana Community Little League of Fontana. Well, Fontana beat Temecula, 14-13. So, Park View faced Fontana on Jul. 27, and won, 13-2. Today, Park View faces San Diego’s Scripps Ranch Little League. Imperial Beach Little League in Imperial Beach hosts the event.

Thus, Eastlake, and two Park View teams play today. Simultaneously. So yeah, good luck trying to attend all three games. As for Park View’s Junior Division all-stars, their exciting run ended Wednesday. After falling on Jul. 26 to Conejo Valley Junior League of Thousand Oaks, 3-2, Park View faced Claremont’s Juniors. Park View got shutout, 13-0. Santa Anita Junior League in Arcadia hosted. The Chula Vista team finished tied for fifth-place in Southern California.

In all, District 42’s four all-star teams combined so far for a 7-3 record in SoCal’s divisional showdowns. We shall soon learn how far each champion advances. Until then, stay tuned!!

Teamwork makes the dream work.

CaliSports News thanks everyone that shares our articles. Teamwork makes the dream work. On that note, CSN thanks Eastlake and District 42 for sharing last week’s District 42 Hot In Three Divisions on social media. My next article promises to provide the latest updates on District 42’s champions, and on other Southern California divisional action. Until then, Let’s Go SoCal!!

Stay with CaliSportsNews.com, Southern California’s undisputed leader in Little League coverage, as we keep you up-to-date on all things SoCal sports! All Cali, All the time!