Pitching and defense made the difference for the Dos Pueblos Little League Junior Division All Stars in the championship game of the District 63 Tournament on Thursday.
Taylor Young threw six strong innings and Teagan Harper recorded the last three outs in a 5-1 victory over Ventura-Foothill for the District 63 pennant at Santa Paula Little League.
The title sends DPLL to the Section Tournament, also being hosted by Santa Paula.
Young allowed one run and three hits and struck out four in a 71-pitch performance. Harper needed eight pitches to close out the game.
The pitchers were aided by great defense behind them. DPLL fielders didn’t commit an error in the title game and were spotless through the entire tournament.
“We had 21 chances with 21 putouts,” said manager Trevor Bean of the final game.
Teagan Harper led the team with five putouts and Evan Bean had four from the shortstop position.
At the plate, DPLL banged out 10 hits, led by Yared Ortiz and Young with two hits apiece. Ortiz stole two bases and scored a run, and Young had a RBI.
DPLL took a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
Spencer Holt and Esteban Garcia singled, and an error allowed Holt score. Ortiz singled to center and stole second, putting runners at third and second. Evan Bean then hit a pop-up that was dropped, allowing Garcia and Ortiz score come home for a 3-0 lead.
DPLL added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
For the tournament, DPLL collected 34 hits and had a team batting average of .366. Stone Saunders led the team with five hits and Nathan Atzberger had five.
The members of the DPLL Junior All Stars include: Adam Almada, Esteban Garcia, Spencer Holt, Drew Schultz, Jameson Barth, Taylor Young, Jarrett Kendall, Stone Saunders, Evan Bean, Teagan Harper, Yared Ortiz, Marcus Carbajal, Jason Holtz, Hudson Von Der Lieth and Nathan Atzberger. The manager is Travis Bean, co-manager Jamie Barth and coach John Young.