Southern California Little League: “Season Over!”
- Updated: August 19, 2020
(The 2019 Southern California champion, Bonita’s Sweetwater Valley Little League, poses after punching its ticket to the West Region tournament. Photo courtesy of Jon Bigornia.)
After a five-month delay due to a statewide government-mandated stoppage, many Little League officials in Southern California this past week finally said, “Enough is enough. We are not waiting any longer for this state to let us play. This season is over!” Sadly, their announcements officially ended any chances of SoCal hosting a 2020 version of the area’s annual all-star tournaments.
This year’s national and international competitions had already gotten canceled months ago. The Little League World Series that takes place yearly in South Williamsport, PA., will not happen in 2020. Similarly, when that got canceled, so did the regional tournaments leading up to that annual event. However, the organization allowed each state in our country to conduct its own intrastate tournaments, and still crown its own state champion. Little League considers Southern California as a bona fide state. I love that. And, for months, thousands of SoCal fans waited patiently, and held out hope, for the 2020 season to resume. The hope was for a post-season all-star tournament that would culminate with one league’s all-stars winning the coveted SoCal title.
Dominating Southern California.
However, that dream never materialized. California’s governor continues to prohibit Little League teams from resuming regular-season schedules, much less play in post-season contests. The final nail in the 2020 season’s coffin came this past week, when officials of Southern California’s most dominant Little League district called it quits. And, in all honesty, who can blame them?
I am referring to California District 42. You see, SoCal groups its approximately 300 local leagues into 39 geographical districts. One of those 39 practically owns Southern California. That of course is District 42. It produced SoCal’s last two champions, and sent teams to the Southern California finals in each of the last five years. One of that district’s leagues, Sweetwater Valley Little League of Bonita, moved to the front of Southern California’s pack. Sweetwater Valley reigns as SoCal’s current champ, and during those past five years, won the Southern California title twice, and finished third in the United States at the annual Little League World Series.
Neighborhood rivalry.
That league’s adjoining neighbor, Park View Little League of Chula Vista, sits closely behind in second-place in Southern California during that stretch. In the past five years, Park View likewise won two SoCal crowns, and similarly visited S. Williamsport. However, Sweetwater Valley slightly edged out its neighbor by reaching further into the US tournament than did Park View’s all-stars.
(Luis Guevara of Chula Vista’s Park View Little League makes a spectacular diving catch during the 2016 Little League World Series. Footage courtesy of Little League.)
When we include all of the action starting from 2013, then District 42 has won the Southern California title five times in those past seven years. And, suddenly Chula Vista’s Eastlake Little League, which borders both Park View and Sweetwater Valley, plays a prominent role. During those seven years, Eastlake won a US title, a SoCal crown, and played in two SoCal finals.
Three-headed monster.
Now, let us dial back to 2009. During the past 11 years, Park View won three Southern California titles, took two trips to S. Williamsport, won a US crown, and captured a world championship. As a result, during those 11 years, Park View remains without question the most dominant league in Southern California, and arguably perhaps throughout the entire country. Think about it. Of the five US leagues that won a world championship during those 11 years, Park View is the only one to have played in S. Williamsport twice during that span. In fact, of the past 11 United States champions, Park View is one of only two to appear twice at the World Series starting in 2009.
Altogether, Park View, Eastlake, and Sweetwater Valley form District 42’s illustrious three-headed monster of Little League. During the past 11 years, as we see, that monster grabbed most of Southern California’s championship banners. Plus, that beast left its ferocious foot prints all over Williamsport with four trips to the World Series. In all seriousness, I would even say that those three leagues put Bonita and Chula Vista onto the national map. The Little League monster has arguably brought that south San Diego County area its most fame. At least to this writer. I mean, to be honest, prior to Sweetwater Valley’s 2015 run, I had never heard of Bonita, and would not have the first clue where to find that unincorporated area on a map of California. In 2014, had someone told me Bonita is a suburb of Sacramento, I would have believed them.
Little League Capital of America.
That is why I suggest that our state’s transportation officials install road signs on the sides of the Southbound 5 and 805 Freeways at the Chula Vista city limits. Those signs should read, “You Are Now Entering California District 42. Welcome To The Little League Capital of America.” That description is not a stretch. I mentioned the past 11 years. During that time, Chula Vista ranks as the only city in America to produce two United States championships. Of the other nine champion cities, only one sent players to S. Williamsport twice in those 11 years. To put that into perspective, Chula Vista sent players four times. Four! So, yeah. District 42 owns America.
(Artwork courtesy of RoadTrafficSigns.com.)
Incidentally, the Little League Capital was scheduled to host this year’s Southern California championship tournament for the 10-and-under division. Officials chose Imperial Beach Little League in Imperial Beach, because it is reportedly the only league in District 42 to offer fields with lighting. But, it is the 12-year-old all-stars that serve as the focus of CaliSports News’ coverage. It is those 12-year-olds that compete every year to play in S. Williamsport. To get there, SoCal’s champion must first win the West Region tournament held in San Bernardino. As mentioned earlier in this article, officials canceled that event. Bummer. Attending that annual extravaganza serves as one of my favorite activities. Oh well, there is always next year.
How the West was won.
Speaking of which, starting next year the West Region will change. Instead of its normal six, the region will only include four so-called “states”: Northern California, Southern California, Hawaii, and Arizona. Southern California dominates the West. In large part due to the monster, SoCal won six West titles in the past 11 years. Those six West titlists from Southern California then went on to Pennsylvania, where they captured two world crowns and three US championships.
(Huntington Beach’s Ocean View Little League comes from behind in the final inning to win the championship game of the 2011 West Region. Footage courtesy of ESPN.)
I feel badly for this year’s 12-year-olds, because those youngsters got denied their one chance to play in San Bernardino, and perhaps even in Pennsylvania. However, very few players from each league get named as all-stars, and only one all-star team gets to represent Southern California at the West Region tournament. Thus, that event’s cancellation in actuality only affected 12-14 players from our entire area. The remaining approximately 99.99 percent of this year’s registered Little Leaguers were never going play there anyway. That is the sad truth.
My two shekels.
I realize that many fans feel disappointed that they cannot watch or attend a Little League World Series this year. However, I must say that I for one feel canceling the event is far better than the alternative. How would Southern California fans feel if the World Series were held as scheduled, but our state’s governor prevented SoCal players from competing in it? And so, we would watch as teams representing other states participated while Southern California got left behind. I think that would feel much worse. So, given the circumstances, I am glad Little League canceled.
As for the issue as to whether our governor overreached by repeatedly prohibiting organized youth outdoor sports, I will leave that heated political debate for other venues. Not here. Anyway, readers do not need to agree with my opinions. After all, what do I know? I am just a crazy rabbi that surfs and gets his thrills racing high-speed go karts. And those are my two shekels.
Congratulations!
Finally, earlier this year, your favorite crazy rabbi/sportswriter got promoted. I am now a managing editor of CaliSports News. Congratulations to Rabbi Rabbs! Another Medill School of Journalism alumnus on the move. Plus, I am CSN’s Little League department head. On that note, my department is looking for additional writers. If you or someone you know would be interested in covering Little League in Southern California, please contact us. Similarly, CSN seeks good writers in virtually every sport. Those that wish to join us, please contact us.
Starting with my next article, I plan to provide weekly updates spotlighting former SoCal Little League stars. You do not want to miss that. Stay tuned !! Until then, Let’s Go SoCal !!
(Chula Vista’s Park View Little League wins the 2009 LLWS. Photo courtesy of ESPN.)
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