by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Claremont Little League’s 12-year-old All-Star team continued cruising on Monday, securing their bid to the Southern California State Little League Tournament in decisive fashion with a 16-1 mercy win over Upland Foothill in Baldwin Park.

With the win Claremont is 6-0 and the section three champion. The team will play La Mirada, the section five champion, at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 20 on field 1 at Eastvale’s Harada Heritage Park, 13099 65th St. Brackets are at tshq.bluesombrero.com, select “state all-star tournaments.”

Monday’s mercy rule victory was secured in the third inning when a single by Emiliano De La Cruz brought home Mattias Arredondo and Malachi Stepney, giving Claremont a 15-run lead at 16-1, prompting the game to be called.

Claremont Little League 12U All-Star players and families pose with the section 3 title banner after Monday’s 16-1 win over Upland Foothill advanced the team to the SoCal State Tournament. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The game was close for exactly one half of the first inning. After giving up a run to Upland in the top of the first, Claremont answered immediately in the bottom half with a Mattias homer. Malachi then singled, and Dominic Scates followed with a two-run homer that put Claremont ahead for good, 3-1. Corral and Emiliano then got on base and Caden Spinrad homered to left center to make it 6-1.

Claremont kept the barrage going in the second. Justin Rodriguez homered to begin the inning, giving the team a 7-1 cushion. 2024 CLL home run derby winner Harlem Turrentine then walked and Mattias brought him home with a double to left, making it 8-1. Malachi walked, then Dominic singled, loading the bases. Emiliano then punched a two-run single, 10-1. Corral then walked, loading the bases again. Caden then made it 12-1 when he singled home Dominic and Emiliano. Evan Coronado then loaded the bases with a single. Evan was thrown out at second on an infield grounder off the bat of Xavier Patterson, scoring Corral, 13-1. Jake Dorman then hit a fly ball to center, scoring Coronado and making it 14-1.

Mattias walked in the third, followed by singles from Malachi and Dominic, loading the bases. Emiliano’s two-run single then ended the game at 16-1.

The undefeated team has outscored its all-star opponents 65-18 over four weeks of play. Manager Tony Spinrad said it felt “fantastic” to win sectionals, and while on paper the team has made it look easy, the work has been challenging.

“Nothing’s easy,” Spinrad said. “Even games that look easy are not easy. We never take anybody lightly.”

Mattias Arredondo homers in the first inning of Monday’s Claremont Little League 12U All-Star team’s 16-1 victory over Upland Foothill. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Claremont opened the all-star season with a 5-2 win over San Dimas on June 26. They were then quickly pushed to the brink twice by Glendora American, coming away with a  6-5 win June 29, and an 8-7 victory in the District 20 championship game July 2, with both games going into extra innings.

“That was probably the toughest team we’ve played,” Malachi said of Glendora American.

Then came sectionals against other district champions. Rather than let up, Claremont kept their foot on the gas pedal, easily dispatching District 23 champions Upland Foothill in the first round on July 12, 21-1. The team then beat District 18 champs South Pasadena, 9-2, on July 13 to set up Monday’s rematch with Upland.

Upland had overcome District 19 champs Azusa American and South Pasadena to earn a trip to Monday’s section three championship game.

Claremont’s red hot 12U team is a familiar bunch, including many of the boys who won the Southern California 9-11 Year Old Little League Baseball Tournament title in 2023, CLL’s first state championship since its 1959 inception. On their way to last year’s state title they also scooped up district 20 and section 3 banners.

Malachi Stepney rounds third before scoring in the second inning of Monday’s game. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Managing expectations this time around has been difficult, Spinrad said, adding the team is playing like they have a target on their backs. “That’s how we approach every game,” he said.

“I think everybody’s got it out for us, we’ve just got to stick together and fight through the end,” Harlem said. “We’re trying to stay together as a team and keep fighting through it all. We just stay working hard. We have a good bond on this team, so we just stay together as a family.”

Spinrad said the goal is to simply win as many games as possible this summer. “That includes state and hopefully beyond,” he added.

Claremont will look to extend its unbeaten run Saturday, July 20 when it faces section five champions La Mirada at 9 a.m. at Harada Heritage Park in Eastvale. Games are free and open to the public.

If the boys win the SoCal tournament, they will move on to the West Regionals tourney. A win there would mean they would have a chance to play in the nationally televised Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.