15 Years After Making it to Williamsport, Moorpark Little Leaguers Off to Another Good Start

Fifteen years after making it all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., Moorpark is off to another strong baseball start, as the 12-year-olds have yet to give up a run in two District 13 home victories, defeating El Rio 16-0  Saturday, followed by a 4-0 win over Sunset on Tuesday.

The boys can take a big step toward winning the district title and advancing to the Section 1 tournament if they can defeat Conejo Valley at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Moorpark is hosting the section tournament, too, beginning July 16.

The other Little League programs still alive in District 13 are Thousand Oaks and South Oxnard.

The section winners advance to the Southern California Regionals in West Covina, beginning on July 23.

In 1996, Moorpark Little League, managed by Hector Garcia, was king, making it all the way to World Series and performing on national television.

Back then, the season was dedicated to Joel Burchfield, 11, who played in the league and died in a drowning accident a couple of months before all-star competition started.

The tragedy was a tremendous blow to all those connected with the Burchfields but one that drew the small community together. The players dedicated the season to Burchfield, dubbing him their Angel in the Outfield,' carrying a banner emblazoned with his name wherever they played, offering him a prayer at second base before each inning, wearing his number on wrist bands.

Many of the parents wore angel pins.

And the Burchfield family, Dan, Laura and 8-year-old Ryan, went along for the ride - all the way to Williamsport - to share the excitement. The other parents would have had it no other way.

Back then, in district play, Moorpark was beaten by nemesis Thousand Oaks in its second game, but came back to beat TO  twice, 8-5 and 2-1, and went on to the divisionals.

In the divisional, Moorpark battled a tough La Puente team, winning twice to advance to the Western Regionals – one step before Williamsport. Moorpark won three games, including a 2-1 win over Issaquah, Wash., in 16 innings – 10 innings longer than a regulation game and stretched over two days to complete.

Moorpark made history, becoming the first team in Western Regional history to reach the Series from the losers' bracket.

When the qualifying tournament was over, Moorpark had faced elimination nine times.

In Williamsport, Moorpark lost 5-1 to Cranston, R.I., then defeated Marshalltown, Iowa 5-1 behind star pitcher Erik Johnson to move within one win of the U.S. championship game.

The season ended with a 10-2 loss to Panama City, Fla.

In all other respects, the trip to Williamsport was a complete success. The coaches and parents' game plan for the Series was simple: Have fun. And the players did just that.

They reveled in the hoopla surrounding the event, everything from the major league-like pre-game introductions to the huge, appreciative crowds to autograph seekers to the unique opportunity to play on television.