Sports

Santana National All-Stars Play for District Title

Rancho San Diego would need two victories over SNLL to advance to the sectional playoffs.

The Santana National 11 and 12-year-old All-Stars can wrap up the District 41 Little League championship and advance to sectional play with a win Wednesday night over Rancho San Diego.

With an 8-3 victory over Rios Canyon on Monday, SNLL remained the lone unbeaten team in the District 41 bracket. Rancho San Diego had to forfeit its first district game after using several ineligible players, but has fought back to earn a match-up against Santana National, who they would have to beat twice to advance. Rancho beat Rios Canyon 13-4 on Tuesday.

Wednesday's game is at 7 p.m. at the Cajon de Oro field at 3900 Conrad Drive (off Campo Road) in Spring Valley. If Rancho California wins, a deciding game would be played there at 7 on Thursday to see which team advances to the Section 7 playoffs hosted by Fletcher Hills LL, where the District 42 champ awaits in a 6:30 p.m. game Saturday.

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In Santana National's win over Rios Canyon, doubles by Colton Calvert, Tristen Salinas and Noah Nunez produced a 2-0 lead in the first. Pitcher Jerry Alesi's solo homer in the third made it 3-0, but Rios Canyon scored twice in the fourth to narrow the gap to 3-2. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Cooper Mendoza's RBI single and a bases loaded walk to Calvert made it 5-2, and in the fifth, Christian Mendez homered to center to highlight a three-run inning that cemented to victory.

Find out what's happening in Santeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Santana National's 10-8 on Monday night to win the District 41 title and advance to that age group's sectional.


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