RSM Little League One Game Out From Little League World Series

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — You wanted it, you got it, Rancho Santa Margarita Little League fans. Friday, the Santa Margarita National Little League all-star team will learn who they will play in Saturday's championship game of the West Regional tournament.

Rancho Santa Margarita-based Santa Margarita earned their championship game berth with the 12-8 victory over its counterpart from the Hilo Little League Thursday, scoring six runs in the top of the sixth and final inning to overcome a 7-6 deficit in a semifinal game.

Mayor Tony Beall spoke of their accomplishments over social media.

"With their impressive victory over Hilo, Hawaii tonight, the Santa Margarita Little League All Star Team is now just one win away from going to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This is a dream come true. These boys and their coaches are making history and all of RSM and California so proud. Let's all do our best to support them and cheer them on to victory. Go Santa Margarita!"

Santa Margarita will face the winner of Friday's semifinal between Hilo and the all-star team from the St. George, Utah-based Dixie Little League. Hilo, the Hawaii state champion, defeated Dixie, the Utah state champion, 14-5, on Monday.

The entire West Regional is being played at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. The tournament winner will advance to the Little League World Series.

Santa Margarita, which led Hilo 5-1 in the second and 6-3 in the fourth, reclaimed the lead on Bobby Gray's two-run homer with one out in the top of the sixth. Santa Margarita added four more runs in the inning.

Drew Rutter, who had driven in four runs with two doubles and a sacrifice fly, was intentionally walked following Gray's homer. Rutter moved to third on Mason Kellerman's single and scored his second run on a wild pitch by Kaynan Kaku Jr.

A.J. Gamulao singled in Kellerman and Joey Gray, who was intentionally walked. Gamulao scored on Tommy Woods' ground out.

Hilo combined three singles, a double, a hit batter, bases-loaded walk and wild pitch for four runs in the fifth. Joshua Ward homered leading off the sixth for Hilo after beginning its fifth-inning rally with a double.
Santa Margarita, the Southern California champion, which is 15-0 in its four tournaments, opened the scoring with two runs in the first.

Bobby Gray reached first on catcher's interference with one out, and scored on Rutter's double. Rutter scored on a throwing error by Ward, the Hilo pitcher.

Hilo scored once in its half of the first without benefit of a hit.

Leadoff hitter Xaige Lancaster reached on an error by Bobby Gray, the Santa Margarita third baseman, moved to second on a walk, went to third on an error by Tyler Ankrum, the Santa Margarita second baseman, on a ground ball hit by Wailele Kane-Yates and scored when Ward hit into a double play.

Santa Margarita added three runs in the second. Bobby Gray singled in Bryan Ramirez, a special pinch-runner for Garrett Strenger, who singled. Rutter doubled in Ankrum, who reached on a force, and Bobby Gray.

Lancaster hit a solo home run with one out in the third. Kaimana Kuamo'o and Kane-Yates followed with singles. Ward loaded the bases when he reached on an error by Kellerman, the Santa Margarita shortstop. Kaynan Kaku Jr. singled in Kuamo'o.

Ramirez was hit by a pitch leading off Santa Margarita's fourth and was replaced by pinch-runner Danny Lawler, who moved to second on a wild pitch by Lancaster, third on Bobby Gray's ground out and scored on Rutter's sacrifice fly.

Woods, who relieved Joey Gray with one out in the fourth after he reached the 85-pitch limit, was credited with the victory, despite allowing three runs, all earned, in 1 2/3 innings.

Lancaster, the second of three pitchers for Hilo, was charged with the loss, allowing six runs, all earned, in 2 1/3 innings.

If they complete the win Saturday, Santa Margarita would be the eighth Orange County team to win the West Regional and advance to the Little League World Series, which is played in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The most recent time an Orange County team advanced to the Little League World Series was in 2011 when the all-star team from Huntington Beach's Ocean View Little League went on to become the first team from the county to win the world championship.

With City News Service

Photo, courtesy city of Rancho Santa Margarita