Cheers add up to 16-4 win for Sweetwater Valley

One down and two to go. The road to the Little League World Series has suddenly gotten a lot shorter for Sweetwater Little League’s 12-under all-star team.

The California District 42 champions raced to their 10th consecutive postseason win by drubbing Northern California state champion San Ramon Valley, 16-4, in 101-degree heat in the opening game of the 2026 Little League World Series West Region tournament Sunday afternoon in San Bernardino.

The win sets up a date in Tuesday’s semifinals against Hawaii representative Kawaihau Community Little League, with the winner advancing to Friday’s regional championship game. The winner of Friday’s contest gets the golden ticket to the iconic Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

Sweetwater Valley is representing Southern California in the four-team regional event after previously capturing the California Section 7 championship and SoCal state tournament.

Hawaii defeated Arizona’s Chandler Little League, 7-3, in Sunday’s other scheduled contest.

It’s a foot race to the West Region title. Chandler hooked up with San Ramon Valley in an elimination game on Monday, winning 7-5 to send the NorCal champions to an early exit. The Arizona champs will not take on the loser of Tuesday’s winners bracket final in another elimination game on Wednesday to pare the tournament field down to two finalists.

There is an off day on Thursday for the teams to catch their breath. Friday’s championship game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. telecast on ESPN.

Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on ESPN. Wednesday’s game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. telecast on ESPN2.

SVLL carries a cumulative 13-1 record into the spotlight encounter.

Yes, it’s really happening.

District 42 administrator Ernie Lucero attended Sunday’s game along with many vocal Sweetwater Valley supporters who made the trek.

Lucero, who has accompanied several District 42 teams to the West Region tournament over the years stressed how important it is it to get that first win in a tournament of this stature.

“Winning the first game in this four-team tournament to see who will represent the West Region at Williamsport is very important,” he underscored. “The win over Northern California sets the stage and opens an opportunity to play midweek, and, hopefully, in the championship game Friday evening.

“In this series, a team can lose one game and still make it to the championship game. This is not a double elimination tournament. The championship game on Friday evening will be a ‘winner take all’ match. The winner of this game will have the honor of representing the West in Williamsport. The very next day after winning the West Region championship, the team get on plane and head to the Little League World Series.”

Lucero lauded the presence of so many SVLL fans at Sunday’s game despite the hot weather conditions.

“Despite playing in 100 degree weather in San Bernardino, the support for Sweetwater Valley showed up in force and was amazing,” he said. “The 13th player, made up of parents, friends and sibling, was loud and auspicious. One person in particular who stood out was the team’s lead cheerleader Johnny Tran, the father of second base player, Tempe Tran.

“Johnny is a true motivator not only for the players but for the spectators as well. His high energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and I’m sure the players heard his encouraging words loud and clear.”

Names of the game
The teams battled through a scoreless first inning with Sweetwater Valley putting one runner on base as Leo Gonzales was hit by a pitch. SVLL starter Noah Kirk retired all three batters he faced to match the goose egg on the scoreboard.

The Bonita team opened scoring in the game in the top of the second inning as Isaac Ramirez tripled and scored on a double by Tempe Tran.

San Ramon Valley had an answer for the 1-0 SoCal lead with two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. Camden Purkiss singled, took third base on an ensuing double by Brantley Brazil and scored on a fielder’s choice by Isaac Hairston. Brazil later scored on an error.

2-1 NorCal.

But it only served to wake up the SVLL offense.

Asher Giglio opened the top of the third inning with a walk and took second base on a single by Mateo Ruiz. Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Teagen Cochran. Kirk then singled in one run and Jesus Cuadra scored another on a sacrifice fly.

3-2 SoCal.

Kirk kept San Ramon Valley at bay with two groundouts and a strikeout to complete three full innings. The SVLL lead grew by six more runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Grant Mielke sent a pitch over the center field fence for a lead-off home run to double the Sweetwater Valley lead to 4-2. Ramirez singled and scored on a double by Tran to up the score to 5=2. James Griffin followed with a walk before Giglio followed with a double to score Tran and place Griffin at third base.

Ruiz reached base on an error to allow Griffin to score and Giglio advance to third base. Cochran was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kirk was hit by a pitch to force in another run and Ruiz later came home on a wild pitch.

Suddenly Sweetwater Valley was in command with a 9-2 lead.

It grew from there.

San Ramon Valley sent in its third pitcher of the game to start the top of the fifth inning. The NorCal champs still couldn’t find an answer to turn the game around.

Mielke drew a walk, followed by another walk to Ramirez. A ground out advanced both runners up a base. Tran lofted a sacrifice fly to score SVLL’s 10th run of the game.

Giglio blasted a one-out double to get the action going in the top of the sixth inning. Ruiz followed with a walk to place runners at first and second bases. A Cochran groundout moved them up to second and third bases. Purkiss entered the game on the mound for NorCal.

Kirk doubled to plate Giglio and Cochran: 12-2.

The inning continued as Cuadra was hit by a pitch. Another hit batter loaded the bases. Mielke followed with a single to score Kirk and Cuadra: 14-2.

Sweetwater Valley didn’t stop there. Ramirez reached base on dropped third strike to reload the bases. Gonzales scored on a wild pitch and, in a daring move, Mielke stole home.

16-2 SVLL.

Cuadra relieved Kirk in the bottom of the sixth inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.

Final: 16-4 Sweetwater Valley.

Kirk got the win having pitched five innings with two hits, two runs allowed and six strikeouts. He threw 51 strikes on 75 pitches, facing 19 batters.

Kirk also helped his cause at the plate with two hits, four RBI and one run scored while Mielke collected three RBI on two hits and scored three runs. Tran also had a good day at the plate with three RBI, two hits (both doubles) and one run scored. Giglio had two hits, scored three runs and drove in one run. Ruiz scored twice.

Sweetwater Valley rocked five NorCal pitchers for seven extra base hits, including five doubles, one triple and one home run.

SVLL batters rapped out 11 hits with two errors on defense. NorCal scored four runs on four hits and committed one error.

The District 42 champions will look to shorten the road to Williamsport even further on Tuesday.