Poway American Goes for District Little League Title

The Poway American All-Stars will face Encinitas National for the District 31 Little League (11- and 12-year-olds) championship on Sunday after rallying to beat Carmel Mountain Ranch in a slugfest on Saturday.

Down 8-2 after three innings, Poway American scored seven runs in the fourth to grab a 9-8 lead, then tacked on four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth for an 18-11 victory at Sage Canyon Park, home of Del Mar Little League.

Encinitas National earned its berth in the final with an 11-1 win in four innings (mercy rule) over Encinitas Little League. Encinitas National beat Poway American 16-5 last Sunday in pool play, so it figures to be a high-scoring championship game.

Zane Thomas had two homers, including a sixth-inning grand slam, and drove in seven runs to lead the PALL attack. Blake Wagenseller had a 4-for-5 day, with a two-run homer and four RBI. Ryan Gagliano had three hits and scored three times.

Carmel Mountain Ranch pulled within 13-11 in the bottom of the fifth off solo home rund from Grant Rogers, Jacob Wexler and Collin Wirkus, but Thomas' grand slam put the game out of reach.

The winner of Sunday's 1 p.m. game, also at Sage Canyon Park, advances to the Section 6 tournament, the next step on a possible pathway to Williamsport and the Little League World Series.