LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STARS - TEAMS BATTLE AND EXIT

A few of Nevada County's Little League baseball teams are battling a few have been sent to the exit while others begin today. Nevada City's major All-stars and Penn Valley's major All-stars were sent to the exit after just two games. Local fans are in shock as Nevada City was District 11's odds on favorite. The Nevada City Angles did not drop a game in the regular season and their All-star team fell 13-5 to Sierra Foothill and then to Foresthill 7-3. Grass Valley is still alive and they play Foresthill at 6:30 in Nevada City. Sierra Foothill is the clear favorite in Area II as they have posted 46 runs and have given up 11 in three games including a 20-4 victory over Grass Valley. In that game SF hit three home runs in the first inning.

In the junior division where Area I and Area II teams play in the same bracket Penn Valley is the only unbeaten while Grass Valley, Bear River and Nevada City stand at 1-1. Tonight at Tri-City GV plays NC which will send one team home. The favorite to in this bracket is Lincoln. While their pitching may not be as strong as defending champion Auburn they have hitters and defenders all through their order. On a side not Lincoln won the District 11 Tournament of Champions this past week.

The 9/10 All-stars get underway today. Best of luck!

PENN VALLEY JUNIORS SHOCK THE TOC

Penn Valley used strategic hitting and pitching to drop the host team Rocklin by a score of 6-3 on Thursday night. With the win they will play in the championship game tomorrow at 6pm versus Lincoln.

Rocklin took the lead in the first inning with a lead off single to start the game and scored on a ball that hit the field umpire.

Penn Valley scored two in the top of the second on a double by starting pitcher Owen Day which one hopped the right center fence.

PV extended their lead in the third on a lead off single, a few past balls moved the runner around to third and eventually made it home on a fielders choice moving the score to 3-1.

PV hung two more on the board in the top of the 6th. Day was relieved by Matt Hayward with the score 5-2. Lead off single by Rocklin scored when PV turned a double play moving the score to 5-3. Hayward struck out the final batter of the inning.

Rocklin went to their bull pen which fanned his first batter, followed by a single to right, fielders choice (6-4), past ball and scored on a throwing error by the Rocklin short stop which extending the PV lead to 6-3. Nick Sims singled, a walk loaded the bases but the final batter in the 7th struck out looking.

Hayward returned to the bump for the final 3 outs. The first out came by a ground out 6-3 but that is where PV manager Jim Nolan pulled him at 20 pitches. He then called on his 12 year old son James Nolan who was asked to get the game's final two outs. The second out of the inning was a fly out to Hayward at third. Then the Rocklin lead off hitter was hit by a pitch. Nolan then fanned the final batter of the contest.

DISTRICT 11 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - DAY THREE

On Wednesday at 5pm the Bear River Red Sox took on the Rocklin Rangers who won the Top of the Rock. By all accounts the Rangers should make it to the championship on Friday at 6. In early going the Rangers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, a lead they would never give up as they went on to a 5-0 victory. BR used Peyton McGovern, Jake Leonard and Jacob Anderson on the bump in the loss. The Sox pitching staff did a good job of keeping the hitters off balance. BR committed 3 fielding errors while the Rangers committed just one. In the first two innings BR had three runners on but had two thrown out at second. Sox catcher Jake Roger threw out a runner in the first inning and Rocklin did not attempt to run again on the strong armed catcher.

BR tried to make it interesting in the bottom half of the final inning as they had the bases loaded with one out and their lead off hitter Leonard at the plate. Leonard hit a line driver to Rocklin's first baseman's out stretched glove which doubled up the runner at first to end the game.

McGovern led the Red Sox at the plate going 2-for-3. BR had 4 hits in the game while Rocklin had 9.

Rocklin plays the Penn Valley White Sox at 6pm. Winner plays in the championship against Lincoln who dropped the Auburn Cardinals by a score of 11-6.

Majors

The Rocklin Yankees smashed the Grass Valley Giants by a score of 10-0 in a mercy rule contest. Auburn A also dominated the Penn Valley B team in a 11-1 shortened contest.

Tonight in Colfax the Bear River B will take on the Tri-City A team at 5pm followed by the Grass Valley Dodgers versus Tri-City B.

Minor

In Newcastle on Wednesday it was Lincoln dropped who dropped Rocklin 15-7. Tonight at 5 it will be Nevada City taking on Tri-City at 5pm.

DISTRICT 11 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - DAY TWO RESULTS

The Bear River Diamondbacks used hard throwing right handed pitcher Ryan Bradford who struck-out 5 in 4 2/3 innings to defeat the Sierra Foothill Giants by a score of 9-6. The Dbacks jumped out early and looked to have a mercy rule game win but SF rallied back in the 6th and final inning. Caleb Edwards who came in relief of Bradford got the final batter out with the bases-loaded on a deep fly-ball to center fielder Brayden Fowler. Edwards led the team in hitting with two hits and Justin Powell had two RBI on a double to right field.

The Dback will play the winner of Rocklin A and Grass Valley B on Saturday at 7:30. Rocklin A won this years Top of the Rock therefore should be the team to beat.

Majors

The Foresthill A's defeated the Nevada City Red Sox in a 10-9 come from behind victory.

Juniors

Lincoln's junior team hit hard and fast while on Tuesday night in Rocklin as they dropped Tri-City 14-4 in a mercy rule contest.

The Auburn Orioles played the Grass Valley A's in the night cap on Tuesday which went the way of the Orioles by a score of 7-3.

Tonight the Bear River Red Sox take on Rocklin at 5 which is followed by Lincoln vs Auburn.

Minors 

Auburn defeated Penn Valley 10-0.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - DAY ONE

The TOC which is a lose and go home tournament started with the Bear River Red Sox looking to avenge a loss earlier in the week as they took on the Sierra Foothill Indians. Jacob Anderson started on the bump for BR. Jake Leonard and Jake Rogers took a turn as well.

The Sox jumped out to a 5-0 lead at the end of the first frame on way to a 15-1 victory. The lone run for Sierra Foothill came on a walk a passed ball and a throwing error. The throwing error was the only defensive mistake made by the BR. The Indians on the other hand made many.

Next up for the BR is the host team, Rocklin. First pitch is at 5pm on Wednesday. Map.

In the night cap is was Penn Valley over Nevada city by a score of 14-7. PV will take on the winner of the BR vs Rocklin game on Thursday at 6pm.

Majors

Over in Colfax it was the Auburn B team that dropped the Nevada City Angels who finished the regular season 15-0-1 by a score of 9-6. Lincoln B also dropped Rocklin B 2-0.

Tonight's games Nevada City B vs Foresthill A at 5pm and the Bear River Diamondbacks vs Sierra Foothill B.

Minor

Mid-Placer over Foresthill 8-6.

DISTRICT 11 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - MAJOR DIVISION.

Listed below is round one of the District 11 Major's Tournament of Champions. Best of luck to all the participants. Sierra Foothill Little League is hosting the tournament again this year.

District 11 Major TOC

Monday, June 16
5 p.m. Rocklin Cardinals vs. Lincoln Cardinals

7 p.m. Nevada City Angels vs. Auburn Astros

Tuesday, June 17
5 p.m. Foresthill A’s vs. Nevada City Red Sox

7 p.m. Bear River Diamondbacks vs. Sierra Foothills Giants

Wednesday, June 18
5 p.m. Rocklin Yankees vs. Grass Valley Giants

7:30 p.m. Auburn A’s vs. Penn Valley Giants

Thursday, June 19
5 p.m. Tri-City A’s vs. Bear River White Sox

7:30 p.m. Grass Valley Dodgers vs. Tri-City Angels

Friday, June 20
5 p.m. Penn Valley Brewers vs. Game 1 winner

7:30 p.m. Lincoln Braves vs. Game 2 winner

Saturday, June 21
5 p.m. Sierra Foothills Angels vs. Game 3 winner

7:30 p.m. Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner

DISTRICT 11 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - OUTLOOK

As area Little League teams begin to look towards the post season there are a few teams that have clearly separated themselves from the pack.

In the Minor's division standouts are - Bear River Little League's  Astros who have a record of 15-1. This team has a few big kids who can hit the ball far as well as a pitcher who throws a lot of nasty curve-balls. This is the team to beat in the area. District 11 TOC bracket. But when a league like BRLL which is less than half the size of Lincoln, Rocklin and Tri-City  who are also filled with travel ball players, wins a game or two that is a great accomplishment.

The Major's division has been competitive all season- The BRLL Diamondbacks, the NCLL Angels and the Foresthill teams will make waves in the TOC. The Angels will have the toughest road to the championship as they will have to go through Lincoln and Tri-City's A teams to get there. The Dback may have the easiest route, that is if playing Rocklin's top team can be considered easy. Foresthill will have to play one extra game as do the Angels to make it to the Ship but the only large league power they will have to contend with is Tri-City's B team. Major TOC bracket.

The Junior division has not been that competitive this season as there is one team that has stood out from their very first pitch. The team I'm writing about is the Auburn Orioles (2013 champions) who are 19-2. There two losses came by way of the Penn Valley Sox and the Grass Valley A's. These three teams added high school players once the freshman season ended therefore these teams have a shot at making it to the final game. The Sox do have the easier route but they will have to contend with Rocklin in the Semi-final. The Orioles and the A's match-up in game one as do other local powers Tri-City and Lincoln. Both the Orioles and A's have a great pitcher to go in game one so look for this to be a low scoring contest. Rocklin has the least resistance to win it all.  Junior TOC bracket.