Southern California Wins Little League Baseball® West Region Championship

Santa Margarita Little League, from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, captured the 2017 Little League Baseball® West Regional tournament by defeating Dixie Little League, from St. George, Utah, 11-7.

Southern California captured the lead in the first inning when Drew Rutter homered with one out.

Utah knotted the game up at three in the bottom of the second inning. Cole Decastro drove in three when he homered in the second inning.

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Southern California took the lead for good with four runs in the third inning. In the third Bobby Gray homered off of Kyler Terry, driving in one run, Tommy Woods singled, driving in one run, and Jonas Novek doubled, driving in two runs.

Utah scored four runs in the fifth inning. Utah's big inning was driven by a home run by Mason Kesterson and a home run by Parker Andrus.

Bobby earned the win for Southern California. He pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs, five hits, and striking out four. Drew recorded the last out to earn the save for Southern California. Kyler took the loss for Utah. He went four and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs, 13 hits, striking out three, and walking zero.

Home runs for Utah came when Mason homered in the fifth inning, Parker homered in the fifth inning, and Cole homered in the second inning. Home runs for Southern California came when Joey Gray homered in the sixth inning, Bobby homered in the third inning, and Drew homered in the first and fourth innings.

Parker, Mason, Cole, Trey Evans, and Ty Maynard each collected one hit to lead Utah.

Southern California collected 17 hits. Joey, Mason Kellerman, Bobby, Drew, Garrett Strenger, and A.J. Gamulao each collected multiple hits for Southern California.

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