SoCal’s King Dethroned
- Updated: July 17, 2018
(The 2018 all-stars from Santa Margarita National Little League of Rancho Santa Margarita. Exclusive photo for CaliSports News courtesy of Robin Gray.)
It is official. Southern California will have a new representative this year at Little League’s West Region tournament to be held next month at Albert E. Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino, as SoCal’s current champ’s reign came to an abrupt end Monday night at Aliso Viejo Little League in Aliso Viejo. That is where Irvine Ranch Little League of Irvine eliminated 2017 SoCal Champion Santa Margarita National Little League of Rancho Santa Margarita, 10-3, in a blowout that was never close after the third inning.
That was clearly not the same team that Santa Margarita had sent last summer to the Little League World Series in S. Williamsport, PA. Tip of the hat to the boys from Irvine that rallied for runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, to depose SoCal’s king.
Irvine will face Huntington Valley Little League of Huntington Beach in a rematch Tuesday in Aliso Viejo. If Huntington Valley wins that contest, HVLL takes SoCal’s Section 10 title. If, however, the Ranch proves victorious, then the two teams will play a winner-take-all rubber match on Wednesday. CaliSports News will follow all of the Section 10 action, so stay with CSN, Southern California’s undisputed leader in Little League coverage.
Until then, as your favorite crazy rabbi was part of Santa Margarita’s extended baseball family during its 2017 run, let me use this moment to say goodbye to SMNLL’s community with the following tribute, starting with the first game that team played in the West Region tourney:
(Rabbi Rabbs and Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Mike Vaughn sat together at Albert E. Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino watching the Santa Margarita National Little League all-star team represent Southern California on opening night of the 2017 West Region tournament, against a team representing Nevada. Photo courtesy of Robin Gray.)
Game Two:
(Tommy Woods of Santa Margarita National Little League of Rancho Santa Margarita made that incredible diving catch in right field against a team representing Northern California during the 2017 Little League West Region tournament held at Albert E. Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. Footage courtesy of ESPN.)
Game Three:
(100 pounds ago!! I was asked which size shirt I had wanted, and I said to give to me the largest one available, and that I needed a shirt so wide that it would reach from my West Los Angeles home to San Bernardino. So, I was given a size XXL. Yes, folks I was overweight last summer. But, thankfully, I have lost 95 pounds since then, and last week when asked which size Park View Little League shirt I had wanted, I chose a men’s medium. However, look at how much healthier my hair had looked a year ago. It was fuller and thicker. Now, my side curls are too scrawny, and scream of malnutrition, which I had suffered from for several weeks if not months until very recently. Anyway, in that photo, I am rocking my size XXL Santa Margarita National Little League gear while cheering for SMNLL’s all-stars, when they faced a team representing Hawaii in the 2017 West Region tournament. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Rabbs.)
After winning the West Region:
(Santa Margarita National Little League in Rancho Santa Margarita depicted in its West Region uniforms worn during the 2017 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA. Artwork courtesy of Robin Gray.)
2018:
(Winning the 2018 California District 68 title. Photo courtesy of Robin Gray.)
(Second baseman Gavin Kaiser of Santa Margarita National Little League of Rancho Santa Margarita leaps to grab the ball against West Anaheim Little League of Anaheim on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Robin Gray.)
(Colby DeLaura of Santa Margarita National Little League of Rancho Santa Margarita pitches against West Anaheim Little League of Anaheim on Sunday. Exclusive photo for CaliSports News courtesy of Robin Gray.)
I am truly disappointed to see Santa Margarita not reaching the 2018 Little League Southern California Championship tournament hosted by Aliso Viejo, which starts on Saturday. I had hoped to bump into my Rancho Santa Margarita friends at that tournament next week. Bummer. Well, here is hoping those friends come out to Aliso Viejo anyhow to say hello. Until then,
Let’s Go SoCal !!
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