Little League All Star teams thrive
By Hector Trujillo
Scripps Ranch Little League (SRLL) had five All Star teams participating in their respective Little League District Tournaments this summer, ranging from 10U to 14U. The 10U All Stars and 11U All Stars both made it to their championship games vs. Point Loma while the 12U Majors team swept through their District tournament, winning all four of their games and taking home the district banner.
The Intermediate 50/70 (13U) All Stars won the District 32 Tournament along with the Section 6 tournament and advanced to play in the Southern California State Tournament where they won their first two games, first against a combined All Star team from Eastlake, Sweetwater Valley and Chula Vista National Little Leagues (called Sweetlake National) 21-1, and then Laguna Beach Little League 15-0, before losing to Dos Pueblos Little League of the Santa Barbara area on July 8 by a score of 12-2 for their first loss this All Star season. However, the team was able to come back with a win versus La Mirada Little League, 9-3, and then had to play two games vs. Dos Pueblos for the championship. Scripps Ranch
won both games, 13-4 and then 12-2 to become the 2025 Little League Intermediate 50/70 Southern California State tournament champions. The team was headed to Nogales, Ariz., for the West Region Tournament where it was scheduled to face teams from Washington, Colorado and Idaho as well as playing the host league Nogales National on July 17 at press time. There are also teams from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Northern California, Alaska and Hawaii competing in the tournament. The Scripps Ranch Intermediate All Stars continue their winning ways in the West Region Tournament and will play again on July 22. The winner of the tournament will represent the West Region in the 2025 Intermediate Little League World Series in Livermore, Calif.
“These kids are playing some very good baseball and having the time of their lives doing it,” said coach Avi Barat. “What else would you want to do in the summer besides play baseball?”
The 10U team came up short in its second game to Point Loma Little League before going on a four game win streak including beating Point Loma in the championship game before falling to Point Loma in the “if needed game.”
The 11U team fell in its first game to Mira Mesa Little League before going on a five game win streak including beating Mira Mesa and Point Loma in the championship game before coming up short to Point Loma in the “if needed” game.
The 12U Majors team played well throughout the district tournament, winning all four of its games to capture District, including shutouts of Point Loma in the semifinal game and Coronado in the championship match. They moved on to the Section tournament starting on July 10 vs. Oceanside American Little League with a 4-0 victory. However, the team had two tough games against perennial opponents San Carlos and 4S Ranch and were unable to advance further.
The 14U Juniors team competed well against some tough teams in two games of District tournament play.
“I would say that we’ve had a great deal of success this year as we had last year,” said SRLL President Ron Madrid. “We’re a really large Little League with a big player pool to pull from, but I’m mostly proud of the sportsmanship they are showing while representing our league.”
Scripps Ranch Little League has more than 500 players of various age ranges that play baseball each spring season.