SAN DIEGO – A group of Point Loma and Ocean Beach teens, playing as Peninsula Little League Senior Division All-Stars, have become Southern California’s best baseball team in their age division and are in Oakland playing for a spot in the Senior Division World Series beginning on Aug. 1 in Easley, S.C.
The Senior Division of Little League Baseball allows youth ages 15-16 to continue playing competitive baseball after they have aged out of Little League and Junior Little League (ages 13-14). Thirteen of the 15 team members are either freshmen or sophomores at Point Loma High School.
Prior to their Southern California win, Peninsula, managed by Rich Loughridge, won district and area titles, most recently in Upland where they faced the best of Southern California in a double-elimination format. In early action, Peninsula lost a 6-5 game to East Anaheim but came back to defeat them 25-3 in an elimination game.
The team played seven games in nine days, winning all five elimination games. They claimed the tournament title on July 17 with a 4-3 win over El Rio.
“These players have worked incredibly hard for this opportunity,” Loughridge said. “They have shown resilience, sportsmanship, teamwork, and heart every step of the way.”
When the Peninsula team arrived in Oakland they found opponents from Wyoming, Oregon, Montana, Northern California, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and Alaska.
A GoFundMe account has been activated to help the 15 players and three volunteer coaches for the Oakland tournament. Expenses including transportation, hotels, team meals and tournament essentials are estimated at $1,000 per person. Donors can go to https://gofund.me/aec225dca.
Peninsula Little League home fields are located at Bill Cleator Neighborhood Park, 2314 Famosa Blvd.
