The Dos Pueblos Little League Juniors All-Star team captured the Section 1 Championship late Monday night, knocking off host Thousand Oaks, 13-7.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, DPLL scored eight unanswered runs to put the game away — although Thousand Oaks made a game of it in the sixth.
With the lead cut to 8-7, Kevin Wirtz made a phenomenal defensive play at first base, catching a soft-liner near the bag at first and alertly stepping on first for a double play to end the threat and inning.
DPLL put the game away with five runs in the top of the seventh, with a two-run double from Ryan Speshyock and RBI singles by Dylan Gesswein and Matteo Calene.
Speshyock led the 14-hit barrage, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Wirtz added three hits and three runs scored, while Gesswein had two hits. Naythan Bojorquez earned the win with four innings of work, allowing just two earned runs. Joe Talarico notched the save by securing the final four outs.
DPLL advances to the Southern California State Tournament in Anaheim, playing its first game at 7 p.m. Sunday at Boysen Park.
