San Diego’s Park View Little League advances to US Championships

Logo from LittleLeague.org website

After the much anticipated game against Georgia yesterday, the local boys from Chula Vista’s own Park View Little League advance to the U.S. Finals in the Little League World Series.

The pressure was high as Park View entered the single-elimination game against the undefeated Warren Robbins team from Georgia. Local fans watched in anticipation as the Chula Vista team advance with an 11-10 victory over Georgia.

The win was not without its challenges. They went through four lead changes, came from behind after Georgia scored 9 runs in the 4th inning alone.

Team members Kiko Garcia and Andy Rios also made huge contributions to the win. Garcia started the game pitching, but showed tremendous diversity of skill as he hit a 2-run home run in the fourth. Rios also contributed with his own 2-run home run to tie the game. A walk-off in the 6th allowed Nick Conlin to score the winning run.

In an exciting and unforgettable moment, Conlin’s teammates rushed to meet him as he scored the winning run. They jumped, cheered, and fell to the ground in excitement. They have cause for celebration as they are only the ninth team in San Diego history to reach the Little League World Series. The last team to make it was the Rancho Buena Vista All-Stars back in 2005.

The Chula Vista team is now 3-1 in this series. As the Entertainer reported Tuesday, that loss came in a game that had no bearing on their advancement. The team took that game as a chance to rest up for the big game against Georgia. The loss was well timed, as it allowed time for the boys to recover and prepare for yesterday’s game.

Park View has proven they deserve to play. The team has gained a reputation for hitting big by hitting more home runs than any other team. There is no doubt that they have what it takes to take on Texas for the win.

The game to determine the national champions will take place Saturday against San Antonio, Texas. That game will be played at 12:00PM and there is no doubt that local fans will have their eyes glued to television screens across the county.

The win Thursday means Park View will be paired up against San Antonio, the only team that has beaten Park View in the series. Can the local San Diego team overcome their previous loss in this final game to determine the U.S. Little League Champions? The stakes are high, and local support is growing.  These hometown players have proven themselves on the national level and they are not to be underestimated.

If, or rather when Park View wins Saturday, the team will play the international champion on Sunday against Mexico or Chinese-Taipei. All games are airing on ESPN and local bars, businesses, and families are sure to be tuned in to see our local team go all the way.