ALISO VIEJO (KGTV) -- Chula Vista's Park View baseball team are closing in on a return trip to the Little League World Series after rallying to win the Southern California Championships crown Saturday afternoon in Aliso Viejo.
The Green Monsters went up early in the bottom of the second inning against Huntington Valley Little League on a solo blast to right field by Michael Rodriguez.
The lead didn't last long as Huntington Valley struck back in big fashion to take the lead. With two outs in the top of the third, HVLL tagged Park View's pitcher Rodriguez for back-to-back home runs putting them up 2-1.
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PVLL's bats came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jordan Bleisch started the team's scoring parade after reaching first base on a throwing error. PVLL then loaded the bases on a single and a walk with no outs for Joseph Anderson.
Anderson's double to right field brought in two runs, which were followed by a pair of RBI's by Conner Alonzo and Kainoa Baptista to give Park View the lead, 5-2.
The five runs were all Park View would need to close out the championship as the Green Monsters were able to old Huntington Valley with two strike outs in the final sixth inning.
Starting pitcher Rodriguez earned the win for Park View.
The Green Monsters were undefeated in the Southern California Championships tournament.
Park View's State's Division III title places them in the six-team West Regional Tournament where they will represent Southern California. Their first game at the West Regional in San Bernardino will be next Sunday night against Northern California.
The winner of the West Regional will move on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
In 2009, the Park View team, which became known as the "Blue Bombers," went on a miraculous run to win the world title defeating Chinese Taipei. Park View reached the LLWS tournament in 2016 but were eliminated by Tennessee.
The 2018 regional championships and Little League World Series games will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
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PARK VIEW STATS
BATTING
2B: Joseph Anderson
HR: Michael Rodriguez
RBI: Conner Alonzo, Joseph Anderson 2, Kainoa Baptista, Michael Rodriguez
PITCHING
WP: Michael Rodriguez (3 INN, 2 RUNS, 3 HITS, 3 SO, 2BB, 2HRS)
