BH Little League All-Stars Rebound After First Loss

Beverly Hills’ 9- and 10-year-old Little League team rebounded Sunday from a loss Saturday in the semifinals of the District 25 All-Star Baseball Tournament, beating the perennial favorite Ladera 18-12.

After Saturday's loss to a loaded Santa Monica West team, the Beverly Hills Gators came back with an inspired performance. Never trailing, they held off the talented Ladera team during an away game.

“It was a team effort, with everyone contributing,” Gators manager Steve Witmer said. “Supported by a loyal and vocal fan base, the BH kids played smart and focused throughout a long and hot game.”

Beverly Hills’ lead was 2-0 in the second inning and grew with each of the four remaining innings.

Witmer said that Beverly Hills made plays in both the infield and outfield when needed, and got solid pitching from six different players. Judah Gould went two innings on the mound and five other pitchers combined to hold off Ladera's big bats in the last four innings.

It was a very different scene on Saturday, when the Gators fell behind against Santa Monica West. The Santa Monica team won 11-1 in five innings at the Ladera Little League complex to capture the winner's bracket, dropping Beverly Hills down to the loser's bracket of the double-elimination playoffs. 

Santa Monica West scored twice in the first, twice in the second, once in the third and five times in the fourth to build a 10-0 lead, meaning Beverly Hills had to score at least one run in the bottom of the fourth to avoid losing by way of the mercy rule. 

Down to its final out, Beverly Hills scored a run to extend the game, but Santa Monica West added a run in the top of the fifth and when Beverly Hills failed to score in the bottom half, the game was stopped.

"We've hit the ball well the whole tournament and we did again today," Santa Monica West Manager Brian Corrigan said Saturday. "Beverly Hills is very good and I wouldn't be surprised if we end up playing them again [for the championship]." 

Beverly Hills plays West Los Angeles Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Ladera Heights, with the winner playing Santa Monica West in the championship game Tuesday.

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