CHULA VISTA (CNS) - The all-star team from the Chula Vista-based Park View Little League lost 5-1 Friday to its counterpart from the Johnston Little League of Johnston, Iowa, in the opening game for both teams in the Little League World Series.
The loss puts Park View into a must-win situation to win the world championship. It will play Saturday against the all-star team from the McAllister Park American Little League of San Antonio, Texas, the Southwest Regional champion, an 11-1 loser today to the all-star team from the Bowling Green Eastern Little League of Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Great Lakes Regional champion.
The Park View-McAllister Park loser will be relegated to the consolation bracket, ineligible to win the Little League World Series.
Park View was limited to four hits by three Johnston pitchers as their 11-game winning streak ended before a crowd announced at 12,171 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Park View, the West Regional champion, scored the game's first run. Daniel Leon singled leading off the top of second. Anthony Soto followed with a single, advancing Leon to second. Leon went to third on a wild pitch and scored on JuJu Padilla's sacrifice fly.
Park View was limited to two hits for the remainder of the six-inning game. Soto led off the fourth with the single, but Josh Larson, the second Johnston pitcher, retired the next three hitters, striking out two, to end the inning.
Ali Camarillo doubled leading off the top of the fifth, moved to third on a passed ball, but Larson retired the next three batters to end the inning.
A walk and hit batter gave Park View runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth, but Michael Siemer struck out Luis Guevara to end the game.
Johnston, the Midwest Regional champion, combined back-to-back singles by Kaiden Dinh, a hit batter, a ground out and error for two runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
J.T. Garcia homered leading off Johnston's half of the fifth. Jack Emanuel singled one out later, went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Dinh's ground out and scored on a second wild pitch.
Johnston scored its first run in the third. Garcia singled with two outs and scored on Michael Siemer's double.
Leon, the Park View starter, was charged with the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Saturday's viewing party will take place at Buffalo Wild Wings at Otay Ranch Mall at 5 p.m.