Encinitas Little League Secures Semi-Finals Slot, Makes History
Fans celebrated a win by the boys last night against Pacifica Little League in San Benardino
By R. Stickney ••
The Encinitas Little League made history Monday by earning a spot in the semi-finals for the West Championship.
Fans celebrated a win by the boys last night against Pacifica Little League in San Benardino. The team won 9-to-7 Monday night, clinching a spot in Friday's semifinals.
Monday’s action was not only part of a double header, but also one for the history books.
“Just to make it this far is exceptional. To be in this venue is incredible,” said Little League Coach Ken MacDonald.
MacDonald has been coaching in Little League for the last 5 years and worked with Chaz Gagne, coach of the All-Star team.
“It's truly historic. It's been 55 years and these kids are a special group of kids,” MacDonald said. “It's amazing."
The next game against Nevada will be Wednesday but it shouldn’t affect the team’s appearance in semi-finals on Thursday.
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Eastlake Little League Allstars players watch as Grant Holman throws out the first pitch before baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on September 7, 2013.
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Eastlake Little League Allstars player Kevin Bateman watches highlights from their season before baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies.
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Images from the welcome home celebration on Aug. 29, 2013 for the U.S. Champs of the Little League World Series, the Eastlake All-Stars.
NBC 7 News
Images from the welcome home celebration on Aug. 29, 2013 for the U.S. Champs of the Little League World Series, the Eastlake All-Stars.
NBC 7 News
Images from the welcome home celebration on Aug. 29, 2013 for the U.S. Champs of the Little League World Series, the Eastlake All-Stars.
NBC 7 News
Images from the welcome home celebration on Aug. 29, 2013 for the U.S. Champs of the Little League World Series, the Eastlake All-Stars.
NBC 7 San Diego
A souvenir for fans at the Eastlake All-Stars homecoming celebration.
Artie Ojeda
The U.S. Champs landed at LAX after a long travel day Monday wearing their West hats and smiling.
NBC 7 San Diego
The Eastlake All-Stars get a pep talk from Padres icon Tony Gwynn before hitting the stage at their public victory party on August 29, 2013.
Brandi Powell
The Eastlake All-Stars get a pep talk from Padres icon Tony Gwynn before their homecoming celebration in Chula Vista on August 29, 2013.
NBC 7 San Diego
The Eastlake All-Stars take the stage during a homecoming celebration at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on August 29, 2013.
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The Eastlake All-Stars take the stage during a homecoming celebration at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on August 29, 2013.
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Micah Pietila-Wiggs #7 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca scores on a passed ball as pitcher Kazuki Ishida #10 of the Tokyo, Japan team covers the plate during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Nick Mora #5 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca reacts after getting hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of their 6-4 loss to the Tokyo, Japan team during the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Fans of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca look on following the teams 6-4 loss to the Tokyo, Japan team during the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Michael Gaines #15 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca reacts after hitting into a double play to end the game giving the Tokyo, Japan team a 6-4 during the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Ricky Tibbet #9 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca pitches to a Tokyo, Japan batter during the fourth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Micah Pietila-Wiggs #7 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca scores on a passed ball as pitcher Kazuki Ishida #10 of the Tokyo, Japan team covers the plate during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Giancarlo Cortez #16 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca is hit by a pitch during the first inning against the Tokyo, Japan team during the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 25: Starting pitcher Grant Holman #17 of the West team from Chula Vista, Ca throws to Tokyo, Japan team player during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game on August 25, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Artie Ojeda
This is Ronne Pietila-Wiggs. Her son, Micah, is one of the star players on the Eastlake All-Stars Little League team. She's holding her lucky pink flip flops that she insisted on wearing at every game. She's also holding a worn out bag that she put all their banners in and took to every game.
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Nick Mora (5) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run off Westport, Conn., pitcher Chad Knight in second inning of the international championship baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif., left fielder Kevin Bateman II can't make the catch on a flyball to left field by Westport, Conn.'s Matt Stone in the fourth inning of the United States Championship game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. Westport's Stone, was out attempting to advance to second on the play. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Nick Mora (5) celebrates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run off Westport, Conn., pitcher Chad Knight in the second inning of the United States Championship game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif., second baseman Micah Pietila-Wiggs, left, puts the tag on Westport, Conn.'s Matt Stone (5) for the out at second in the fourth inning of the United States Championship game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula Vista, Calif.'s Micah Pietila-Wiggs fields a ground-out by Westport, Conn.'s Drew Rogers during the third inning of the United States Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in South Williamsport, Pa. Chula Vista, Calif., won 12-1. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 24: Pitcher Nick Mora #5 of the West team throws to a the Westport, CT team batter during the third inning of the West's 12-1 win during the United States Championship game on August 24, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 24: Members of the West team celebrate following their 12-1 win over the the Westport, CT team during the United States Championship game on August 24, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 24: Michael Gaines #15 of the West team celebrates with third base coach Doug Holman during the sixth inning of the West's 12-1 win over the Westport, CT team in the United States Championship game on August 24, 2013 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Eastlake's Nick Mora led the team to a major victory on August 24, 2013.
AP
Chula Vista, Calif., players surround Grant Holman after his game-winning grand slam off Newark, Del.,' David Hawtof during the fourth inning of a baseball game in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, in South Williamsport, Pa. At left is Jack Hardcastle. Chula Vista, Calif., won 15-3 in four innings.
AP
Chula Vista, Calif.'s Grant Holman, center, is swarmed by celebrating teammates after hitting a three-run home run off Westport, Conn., pitcher Max Popken in the ninth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. The team from Chula Vista, Calif., won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Nick Mora (5) rounds second past Westport, Conn., second baseman Max Popken after hitting a solo-home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. The team from Chula Vista, Calif., won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chula Vista, Calif., pitcher Rennard Williams, right, celebrates with teammates Grant Holman, center, and Micah Pietila-Wiggs after getting the final out in a 6-3 win over Westport, Conn., in nine innings of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Michael Gaines (15) scores on a wild pitch by Westport, Conn., pitcher Alex Reiner, right, in the sixth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. Chula Vista won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Grant Holman rounds third and heads for home after hitting a three-run home run off Westport, Conn., pitcher Max Popken in the ninth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. Chula Vista won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chula Vista, Calif.'s Grant Holman, right, and Ricky Tibbet react after Holman pitched a no-hitter against Grosse Pointe, Mich., in a United States pool play baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, in South Williamsport, Pa. Chula Vista, Calif., won 3-0.
AP
Chula Vista, Calif. players surround Grant Holman, center, after his game-winning grand slam off Newark, Del.'s David Hawtof during the fourth inning of a baseball game in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, in South Williamsport, Pa. Newark, Del., catcher Jack Hardcastle, left, watches. Chula Vista, Calif., won 15-3 in four innings.
Eastlake Little League
Eastlake Little Leaguers pose for pictures in Williamsport, Penn.
Eastlake Little League
Eastlake Little Leaguers pose for pictures in Williamsport, Penn.
ESPN
Images from the Eastlake All-Stars win as West Regional Champs in the Little League World Series competition on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013.
ESPN
Images from the Eastlake All-Stars win as West Regional Champs in the Little League World Series competition on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013.
ESPN
Images from the Eastlake All-Stars win as West Regional Champs in the Little League World Series competition on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013.
ESPN
Images from the Eastlake All-Stars win as West Regional Champs in the Little League World Series competition on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013.
Eastlake Little League
The parent section in Williamsport, Penn.
ESPN
The team celebrates the win against Michigan on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013.
ESPN
Grant Holman pitched a no-hitter as the team celebrated a win against Michigan on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013.
ESPN
The team celebrates the win against Michigan on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013.
The momentum changed when two runs were scored in the 7th inning.
ESPN
An image of Patrick Archer after his 7th inning hit that brought in 2 runs against Michigan.
ESPN
Grant Holman pitched a no-hitter - a first for California since 1993 according to ESPN.
A West Region team photo from the Eastlake Little League's Facebook page.
Eastlake All-Stars win against Nevada in a blowout on Aug. 4 in the Western Regional Little League Tournament in San Bernardino.
The Eastlake All-Stars team photo
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif.'s Nick Mora (5) is greeted by teammates after hitting a solo-home run off Westport, Conn., pitcher Max Popkin in the sixth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. The team from Chula Vista, Calif., won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP
Chula VIsta, Calif., pitcher Grant Holman delivers against Westport, Conn. in the second inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. The team from Chula Vista, Calif., won 6-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Clarence Haseyama was wearing a team jersey and hat as he watched his grandson play.
“Very proud, very proud,” Haseyama said of his grandson, adding that he believes his success may be attributed to the blood line of male baseball players in the family.
The roster for the Encinitas All-Stars includes Austin Machado, Ethan Workinger, Finlay Lumsden, Izuru Sakata, John Kraus, Kai Haseyama, Luke Berardi, Nicholas Sando, Nikola Ortega, Peter Gagne, Ryan Martinez, Shane Telfer, Spencer Jones and Wyley Sharp.
