The 12-and-under Encino All-Stars (12-1) defeated Conejo Valley (8-3) 16-10 to clinch the North Sub-divisional championship Thursday night. It was Encino’s fifth win in six days.
Encino jumped ahead 3-0 in the top of the first behind Jamie Robertson’s two-run homer, but relinquished the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Conejo Valley scored eight runs.
Most teams would crumple down 8-3, but it didn’t faze Encino at all. They answered with two runs in the second and third innings to pull within one run following Robertson’s second home run of the game and Justin Greenwald’s sixth home run of the all-star season.
In the top of the fourth, Encino had the ultimate two-out rally. After the first two hitters made outs, Encino scored eight runs. Mike Cohen had the game-tying hit and Greenwald had the go-ahead knock. He finished with four RBI’s.
Seth Stone added his seventh homer in the past 10 games. Blake Hanson belted a two-run double. Grant Berman, Jack Scher and Elijah West blasted one RBI each. Cameron Bolger, Shawn Goosenberg and Gordon Magruder all scored once.
If Encino wins the Southern California Championship Series, they will advance to the Western Regional in San Bernardino, the final step in qualifying for Williamsport.
In the Western Regional, the Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, northern California, Southern California and Utah state champions will all vie for the one western bid.
Encino is one of only three teams in the entire state still alive.
Southern California Championship Series – 2441 E. Cortez St., West Covina
Game 1 - Encino vs Ocean View (7/30 - 3 p.m.)
Game 2 - Encino vs Ocean View (7/31 - 3 p.m.)
Game 3 - If necessary (8/1 - 7 p.m.)
