The Dos Pueblos LL Junior All-Stars have been crowned SoCal State champions.
Coming out of the losers’ bracket, DPLL overcame all odds and took down Vista American LL twice on Friday night for their fifth and sixth wins in a row to earn the SoCal State title.
They are the first team from DPLL to advance past the Southern California State Tournament.
“I can’t say enough about all the kids, the families, our coaching staff and the energy we brought this past week,” DPLL manager Jacob Pepper said. “After losing that first game in extra innings last Friday, our backs were against the wall each and every night facing elimination but we just got stronger and stronger each and every game.
“I don’t think there was a better way to do it. It’s a proud moment for our District 63, Dos Pueblos Little League league and the community of Goleta.”
DPLL will now head up to Bend, Oregon to compete in the Western United States Regional Tournament. They will take on the Nevada state champion on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
“I’m looking forward to our families continuing the journey in Oregon next week for the Western Regional Tournament,” Pepper said. “What a once-in-a-lifetime experience it will be for these kids.
“The team will need the support of the local Santa Barbara and Goleta community to make the trip possible. To help the families please make a tax-deductible donation to Dos Pueblos Little League.”
Game 1: DPLL 7, Vista America LL 2
In the opening game, DPLL got the scoring started with an RBI single off the bat of Seth Orozco to score Adan Macias and go up 1-0.
That tally remained until the bottom of the fourth when DPLL scored a pair of runs to extend the lead to 3-0 on a pair of Vista America errors. Jonah Pepper and Max Cruse scored the runs.
They plated two more runs that inning on a two-out rally thanks to a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball to put DPLL up 5-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, DPLL tacked on two more runs to extend the lead to 7-0 and provide starter Max Cruse with plenty of run support.
Cruse tossed 6 ⅓ innings, giving up a pair of runs while striking out six. Those two runs came in the top of the seventh, but it was far too little, too late as Macias closed the door and capped off the 7-2 win.
Game 2: DPLL 11, Vista America LL 1
The second game was all DPLL, as they earned a mercy-rule win after five innings of play.
Despite the final tally, Vista America opened the scoring after they plated one run in the top of the first.
DPLL got on the board in the bottom of the second and tied the game up at 1-1 on a run-scoring bunt by Ollie Gesswein to score Cruse.
The DPLL offense dominated from there, plating five runs in the bottom of the third and snagging a 6-1 advantage thanks to hits from Holden Brey, Izzy Guttierez, Grady Felix, Matt Brennan and Kian Palmer.
They chipped in two more runs in the bottom of the fourth before clinching the SoCal State championship in walk-off fashion in the fifth.
The walk-off came on an RBI sacrifice fly by Jonah Pepper to score Gabe Estrella.
Felix was on the mound for the title-clinching game, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four in five innings of work.
DPLL’s Junior All-Stars are Matt Brennan, Holden Brey, Max Cruse, Charlie Douglas, Gabe Estrella, Grady Felix, Ollie Gesswein, Isaac Guttierez, Adan Macias, Seth Orozco, Kian Palmer and Jonah Pepper.
The team is managed by Jacob Pepper with coaches Dan Brennan, Jeff Palmer and Dave Robertson.
Dos Pueblos Little League is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
IRS Section 170(b)(2)(iii) for both federal and state tax purposes. Federal Tax ID #: 23-7377558, State Tax ID #: D-071715