Chris Youngdahl provided solid relief pitching to help the Goleta Valley South Little League 12-Under All Stars defeat Ventura-Foothill, 5-2, and advance to the semifinals of the District 63 Tournament at Girsh Park.
The victory sets up a GVSLL vs. Dos Pueblos Little League matchup on Friday at 5 p.m.
Youngdahl relieved starter Christian (Gunner) Martinez with one out and a runner on base in the third inning and GVSLL leading 4-2. Youngdahl induced a double-play ball to end the inning.
GVSLL padded its lead to 5-2 when Reid Laguette-Skei doubled to right and scored on a one-out groundout by Gianni Burns.
Youngdahl retired Foothill in order in the fourth and struck out the side in the fifth after the leadoff batter reached base. He shut down Foothill in the sixth to end the game.
GVSLL went up 3-0 in the second as Miles Smith hit a two-run double and Martinez drove in another run.
Foothill scored two runs in the bottom of the second.
In the third, Marco Rios lined a single to center to start the inning and advanced to third on a single by Gavin Miller. Oliver Mognis brought home Rios with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
The Goleta Valley South 12U All-Star Team consists of Declan Babai, Gianni Burns, Owen Coffman, Reid Laguette-Skei, Christian (Gunner) Martinez, Gavin Miller, Graham Millington, Oliver Mognis, Kieren Ramaker, Marco Rios, Miles Smith, Luke Trigg and Christopher Youngdahl. The team is managed by Ed Martinez, assisted by Daniel Babai and Victor Rios.