The cross-town rivalry game between the 12-under division champions from the Dos Pueblos and Goleta Valley South Little Leagues was back Wednesday at Girsh Park.
Over a year removed from a season canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the local little leagues rejoiced to be back in action.
Their season was capped off —as it would be in any other normal year — with a match-up between the league winners.
“Any time you miss something, it just makes the heart grow fonder. These boys that I have all love baseball,” said GVSLL Angels’ coach Rob Brennan. “A lot of them hadn’t played baseball for a year plus. As soon as we said, ‘time to practice and get started,’ everybody showed up to every practice and every game and just worked really really hard.”
As for the game, the Angels defeated the Dos Pueblos Giants, 9-3.
It was a team effort through and through for the Angels, with multiple runs coming from simply putting the ball in play.
In the top of the first, Asher Streeton smacked a grounder that led to a pair of runs.
R.J. Jimenez and Ryland Tupper each had a RBI in the second inning.
The DPLL Giants did not go down without a fight.
Taylor Young singled to left field in his very first plate appearance and scored on a single to left by Jaxson Russell.
Charlie Douglas had a RBI in the bottom of the fifth, and Young drove in the Giants’ final run in the sixth.
Giants coach Jeff Denier was proud how his team came together after a year away from the game.
“We all came as individuals. We played together and we kept getting better throughout the season,” said Denier.
While this was certainly a big win for GVSLL and the undefeated Angels, the game meant more to local youth baseball and the community.
Finally, some normalcy returned to town.