The Boys of Summer End Their Run

Above: The Golden Hill of Fullerton Little League All Star Team turns to show their heartfelt appreciation to their families and friends for their support after falling in the District Championship game on Sunday afternoon. The tournament was held at the Fullerton Sports Complex over the past two weeks.

Story and photos by Allen Bacon
The Daily Bosco/Bosco Fullerton

The Golden Hill of Fullerton Little League All Stars were having a great week at the District Tournament with big wins over Brea on Tuesday, Whittier on Thursday and Murphy Ranch on Saturday to reach the Championship Round against West Yorba Linda.

Needing only one win to advance to the Sectional Tournament next week, WYL looked every bit like a team destined to reach Williamsport for the Little League World Series next month with a 12-1 win over Golden Hill. The game was played at the Fullerton Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.

West Yorba Linda didn't waste anytime getting on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the first but Golden Hill came back in the second to cut the defecit in half with their only run of the game when Matthew Macias continued his hot hitting in the torunament by driving in Logan Horton with a single down the right field line.

But from that point on, WYL shut the usually potent Golden Hill offense down and put on a hitting and scoring clinic scoring three in the third, four in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Golden Hills threatened to score in the fifth with two men in scoring position with two outs, but ultimately stranded both runners sending WYLL to Cypress for the Sectional Tournament which starts next week.

In the meantime, there was a nail biter developing in the Junior Division Championship game as Whittier and Golden Hill Junior All stars took a 1-1 tie to the bottom of the last inning(the seventh). With two out, Golden Hill had a runner at second on a double. The runner took third on a surprise steal. Even though the Whittier side claimed their coach had called a time out, the Umpires said they did not hear a call for a time out.

With two out and a man at third, Whittier decided to load the bases to set up a force at any base, but the Whittier catcher left the area behind home plate too soon and the home plate umpire called a balk allowing the winning run to score and for Golden Hill to avenge an earlier loss to Whittier in the tournament.

Because it was Whittier's first loss the two teams will met again on Tuesday night at the FSC for one more game with a trip to the Sectionals for the Junior Division on the line.

Update: The Golden Hill Junior team beat Whittier on Tuesday to advance to the Southern Sectional. Fullerton will be hosting the Sectional Tournament with all games being played at the Fullerton Sports Complex. Golden Hill plays Bellflower at 1 PM on Sat. July 16.

Below: Golden Hill battled to the very end. In the last inning GHLL had two runners in scoring position against West Yorba Linda.