Santana National Wins on Walk-Off Grand Slam

Noah Nunez broke open a tight game with a walk-off grand slam homer in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Santana National Little League 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars to a 6-2 win over their West Hills counterparts.

With Friday night's victory at the Cajon de Oro field in Spring Valley, Santana National remains unbeaten in the District 41 double-elimination tournament. Their next game will be on the same field Monday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Saturday's Alpine-Rios Canyon game.

West Hills' Aaron Barkley gave his team a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with a solo home run, and West Hills added another run in the fourth thanks to a walk, stolen base and an errant throw to third base.

Tristen Salinas put Santana National on the board with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the fourth, and SNLL escaped several jams over the next two innings to trail by just one, 2-1, entering the last of the sixth.

After a lead-off walk to Christian Mendez and a strikeout, Colton Calvert drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Cooper Mendoza then delivered an RBI single to right-center to tie the game.  Emory Allen-Fox walked to load the bases, setting up Nunez's heroics. His line drive over the fence in right sparked a celebration at home plate and assured Santana National of at least two more games.

The SNLL 10- and 11-year-old team also is undefeated after a 12-1 win over Singing Hills on Wednesday. They face Alpine on Saturday at 6:30 on the West Hills fields. The 9- and 10-year-old team is 1-1 in its tournament after losing Friday night to Rancho San Diego.