SAN BERNARDINO — Noah Kirk was poised for his moment.
Kirk pitched a two-hitter as Sweetwater Valley Little League clinched the Southern California Little League championship with a 9-0 win over Encino Little League at Al Houghton Stadium on Sunday night.
“He joined our league for this purpose,” said Sweetwater Valley Little League manager Steve Winnick. “To pitch in this game and shine.”
The young right-hander recorded four walks and seven strikeouts for Sweetwater Valley, which swept all five games in the SoCal tournament, securing a place in the upcoming West Region tournament, set to begin on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Sweetwater Valley Little League, based in Bonita, previously represented SoCal at the West Region tournament in 2015 and 2019. The 2015 team not only won the West Region but also reached the semifinals of the U.S. bracket at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
“I adore these kids. I’ve coached some of them since they were five,” Winnick expressed. “Having this team represent our league and district is fantastic.”
In the most significant start of his first season with Sweetwater Valley, Kirk effectively varied his delivery timing to keep Encino’s batters off balance.
“They swung at the curveball every time,” Kirk noted. “I was able to attack the strike zone, and once we secured the lead, it took the pressure off.”
Encino loaded the bases in the second inning, but Kirk responded with two swinging strikeouts before a groundout to shortstop Mateo Cruz wrapped up the inning.
Tempe Tran went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, as Sweetwater Valley exploded with four runs in the fourth inning.
Kirk singled and scored on Jesus Cuadra’s double to the gap, followed by another run due to an error, and RBI singles from Grant Mielke and Tran extended the District 42 champions’ lead to 5-0.
Encino starter Matt Lazo struck out eight but struggled after conceding back-to-back hits in both the second and fourth innings. He walked three batters before exiting after the fifth inning.
In the sixth, Encino reliever Dom DiMeo faced three batters without recording an out before Sweetwater Valley’s Isaac Ramirez and Julian Sevilla drove in runs with extra-base hits to the right field corner.
Cruz made spectacular defensive plays in the fifth and sixth innings for Sweetwater Valley, while Leo Gonzales came in late to relieve Kirk and secured the final two outs to clinch the victory.
Sweetwater Valley is set to face Northern California’s San Ramon Valley Little League from Danville in the West Region opener on Sunday, Aug. 9.
