Phillies Win Second Malibu Little League Majors Championship

The Malibu Little League Majors Phillies beat the Red Sox 7-2 to win their second straight Malibu Little League Majors Championship on Sunday.  

The Phillies, who finished the season with a record of 16-4 and were the Malibu Little League Majors regular season champions as well, put together an outstanding display of pitching, hitting and fielding to close out their championship season in style.

On the mound, the Phillies' Giancarlo Zappala tossed a complete game, allowing only two runs on five hits. His control was impeccable, as he did not walk a batter and recorded eight strikeouts. Zappala was dominant after the first inning, retiring 15 of the last 18 batters he faced, and not allowing any runners past second base.  

The Championship Game win was his third victory and second complete game of the playoffs, including a seven inning no-hitter in the opening round.

The Phillies' high-powered offense, which averaged over seven runs per game this season and scored an astounding 43 runs more than the second-highest scoring team in the league, was at its best on Sunday.

Phillies hitters banged out 11 hits, including two each from Zappala, leftfielder Whitman Wachs and second baseman Lewis Baron. Wachs and centerfielder Curtis Skakel contributed two RBIs apiece, while Baron, Zappala and rightfielder Alex Phillips drove in the Phillies other three runs.  

Team captain and shortstop Tyler Ray had a key hit and scored two runs. The Phillies got additional offensive production from third baseman Chris Manson, who launched a triple to deep rightfield and eventually scored; from catcher Max Berns, who singled and played yet another solid game behind the plate; from first baseman Trent Simonian, who was robbed twice on hard line drives; and from outfielder Marcus Berns.

The Phillies complete Championship Game effort also featured outstanding defense behind Zappala, including sparking plays in the field by Baron and Jaron Kiviat, who each ranged far up the middle to take away basehits while playing second base; by Judah Dylan, who took away another hit with a nice play on a tough short hop at third base; and by Ray, who raced into left field and made a tough, over-the-shoulder catch to take away yet another basehit.

For the Red Sox, William Tamkin lined a double off the wall in right center in the first inning and scored on a basehit by Lars Peterson, who scored the Red Sox's other run later in the inning.  

Jake Hughes took the loss, pitching 4 2/3 innings, and allowing six runs on nine hits, while striking out seven. The Red Sox finished the season 9-8-2, and had a valiant postseason run, winning three playoff elimination games in four days leading up to Sunday, only to fall one win short of the title.

With their 16-4 record this spring, the Phillies now boast a combined mark of 30-8 over their two consecutive championship seasons.  

In recognition of their outstanding play, a league-high eight Phillies were named to Malibu Little League Traveling All-Star Teams. 

Ray, Wachs and Skakel were named to the MLL 12 year-old Traveling All-Star Team. Zappala, Baron and Simonian were named to the MLL 11 year-old Traveling All-Star Team. Marcus Berns and Kiviat were named to the MLL 9-10 year-old Traveling All-Star Team.

The Phillies now advance to the Little League Tournament of Champions this weekend.