Crescenta Valley Led All-Star Squad Clinches WS Berth

The San Gabriel Valley Babe Ruth 18-under all-star baseball team is back to where it belongs. After failing to reach the Babe Ruth World Series last year, SGV is headed to Ephrata, Wash., for another run at a World Series championship under coach Phil Torres.

San Gabriel Valley capped an undefeated run through the Pacific Southwest Regional tournament at Modesto Christian High School with a 5-4 win over Watsonville on Tuesday night. SGV begins its quest for a championship Aug. 6 against Syracuse, N.Y. at 11 a.m. in the World Series opener.

SGV will compete in the American Division against the champs of the Middle Atlantic, Midwest Plains and Southwest regions. The top three teams from each pool will advance to a single elimination tournament that concludes Aug. 13.

Tuesday's game got off to a rough start for SGV as Watsonville jumped out to a 4-1 lead with all four runs coming unearned off starter KJ Edson.

But in the bottom of the fifth SGV tied the game via a three-run bomb from Brennen Salgado. Nick Wagner, who was named tournament MVP, then gave SGV the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

"They had a little momentum going," said Torres, who also coaches the Crescenta Valley varsity baseball team. "We got it back when Brennan hit the three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. He hit the three-run home run, and we brought in (Troy) Mulcahey for the save."

SGV last won a World Series title in 2007 and Torres has coached two other teams to a championship in his stint as coach of the all-star program.

Torres said the team spent Tuesday night driving back home, and he plans to give his players a few days off before they resume practice on Sunday. SGV leaves for Ephrata next Thursday.