Youngsters bust out the brooms in district

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PILEUP—The Moorpark Little League 9- and 10-year-old All-Star squad celebrates Wednesday's 12-0 victory over Conejo Valley in the District 13 championship game. Sectionals start Saturday. The Moorpark Little League 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars made it a clean sweep.

Austin Menzel allowed only one hit over four innings on the mound and added two hits and three RBI at the plate to lead Moorpark to a 12-0 victory against Conejo Valley during Wednesday's District 13 championship at Colina Middle School at Thousand Oaks.

Moorpark's 9/10, 10/11 and 11/12 All-Stars all won district crowns this summer.

"Top to bottom, their system works," Conejo Valley manager Doug Martz said. "This year, Moorpark sets the bar."

Moorpark advances to the Section I tournament, which begins Saturday at 4 p.m. at Nipomo.

Conejo Valley's Dante Sandoval led off the top of the first with a single, but Menzel didn't allow a hit the rest of the way.

Moorpark manager Randy Tennant praised Menzel and the stellar defense behind the pitcher.

"Our defense as a whole was outstanding," Tennant said. "Austin's a big kid. He's pretty intimidating up there, and he's tough to beat."

Moorpark's Zane Pope had an outstanding day at the plate by going 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Moorpark jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, highlighted by Menzel's two-run, no-out bases loaded single. Ryan Tiedge added an RBI single and Dave Aguilar scored on a throwing error.

Sawyer Rost notched a double and scored a run in the second to give Moorpark a 5-0 edge.

Moorpark opened up the floodgates on offense in the third inning.

Austin Gaz led off the third with a walk and Tiedge followed with a double.

Daniel Stuhr notched an RBI single for a 6-0 Moorpark lead.

Travis Weston, Scott Brooks, Shay Whitcomb, Pope and Gaz added RBI singles in the frame, while Menzel belted a runscoring double.

Ryan Cook, Chris Tennant and Mathew Page also contributed for Moorpark.

Randy Tennant was aided by coaches Lane Whitcomb and James Lewis.

"It's awesome," Tennant said after the victory. "There's nothing better."

Martz hopes he can get next year's squad to the sectionals.

The skipper was thrilled with Conejo Valley's performance in the tournament, especially since his team won three straight elimination games to reach the final.

"They're great kids," Martz said. "They fought all the way through. We'll learn, we'll adjust and we'll come back next year."