The El Segundo all-star team is set to kick off their campaign in the Little League World Series on Thursday, becoming the second team from Los Angeles County to compete in the event in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania since 1995.
To secure their spot in the World Series, El Segundo triumphed over the all-star team from Bollinger Canyon Little League based in San Ramon. They emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline in the championship game of the West Region Tournament held at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. El Segundo dominated the first inning, scoring all three runs during that period.
El Segundo’s first four batters successfully reached base, displaying an exceptional performance. Brody Brooks doubled and advanced to third on Louis Lappe’s single, allowing him to score on a wild pitch. Lappe’s hit also brought home Lucas Keldorf and Jaxon Kalish, who both reached base by walk. This early offensive surge set the tone for their victory.
Lappe, the starting pitcher for El Segundo, proved to be a formidable force on the mound. He limited Bollinger Canyon, the representative team from Northern California, to just five hits and a single run in the fourth inning, showcasing his skills with eight strikeouts and only one walk. Unfortunately, due to the 85-pitch limit, Lappe had to be replaced after pitching for 5 2/3 innings. Kalish took over and quickly retired the only batter he faced, Mikey Wong, securing a save for himself in the process.
In the upcoming modified double-elimination tournament, El Segundo will contend against the all-star team from the New Albany Little League in Ohio. The latter emerged as the Great Lakes Region champion, making it an exciting matchup to watch on Thursday.
El Segundo has had an outstanding summer, recording a remarkable 14-1 win-loss record across four tournaments. Their only loss came in the opening game of the championship series of the Southern California State Tournament on July 31 against the all-star team from the Sherman Oaks Little League, with a close scoreline of 4-3. However, they redeemed themselves later that day with a 3-2 victory in the rematch.
This year’s El Segundo team has made history by being the first Los Angeles County team to win the West Region Tournament since 1994. It is worth mentioning that the Northridge Little League all-star team emerged victorious that year and ultimately clinched the U.S. championship. This remarkable feat included the talented quarterback, Matt Cassel, who would later go on to play for USC and the NFL.
During this time span, another team from Los Angeles County also qualified for the Little League World Series. In 2021, the Torrance Little League all-star team secured their spot when the series was limited to U.S. teams due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of just the champion, the top two teams from each of the eight U.S. regions advanced to the World Series.
Los Angeles County has achieved success in the Little League World Series three times in total. The Granada Hills National Little League all-star team emerged as champions in 1963, while teams from the Long Beach Little League secured victories in 1992 and 1993.
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