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Mexicali a Little League powerhouse as well

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More than 7,000 all-star teams began tournament play last month. The final 16 advanced to the Little League World Series. Just six remain.

Two of them – Sweetwater Valley from Bonita and Seguro Social from Mexicali, Mexico -- play their regular seasons 120 miles apart.

Sweetwater Valley’s Isaac Artalejo and Seguro Social’s Raul Leon are cousins.

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The Mexicali team is managed by Jorge Joel Armenta, who like many in Mexicali crosses the border to Calexico to work. Armenta’s son and three other players on the Seguro Social team attend school in Calexico.

“In Mexico, soccer is No.1,” Armenta said through an interpreter. “But in Mexicali, baseball is bigger than soccer.”

Mexico has approximately 220 Little Leagues, according to Miguel Carreon, district administrator for Baja California. The national champion, which advances to the LLWS, is determined in a 14-team tournament. This is the fourth time in 11 years Seguro Social has sent a team to Williamsport.

The Mexicali team plays Cardenales Little League from Venezuela at 1 p.m. (PT) Thursday. Sweetwater Valley plays Pearland (Texas) West at 5 p.m. (PT). Both gamers are on ESPN.

Should Seguro Social and Sweetwater Valley both win Thursday and Saturday, they would meet in Sunday’s championship game.

Armed and ready

Antonio Andrade will start for Sweetwater Valley on Thursday.

He started the team’s West Region championship, allowing six hits and four runs (none earned) for the victory. He also threw 2 2/3 innings in relief in Sunday’ loss to Pearland (Texas) West.

With Monday starter Levi Mendez and Tuesday starter Dante Schmid not available due to pitch count limitations, Sweetwater Valley manager Ward Lannom prepared to mine his pitching depth. During batting practice, he watched as Jacob Baptista, Preston Fleming and Walker Lannom throw bullpen sessions.

Staying hot

Walker Lannom had a bit of an off night Tuesday. Yeah, he hit just two singles in his four at-bats.

“His consistency has been amazing,” Ward Lannom said Wednesday.

The manager’s son is 9-for-14 with six runs, six RBI and two home runs in four games here and on Tuesday extended his hitting streak to 14 games. He is batting .588 (31-for-50) during the streak. He has 10 home runs in the past 10 games.

Even better

The only Sweetwater player who has hit more consistently than Lannom over the team’s 20 games is Levi Mendez.

His .633 batting average (45-for-71) includes a 14-for-27 run since the start of the West Region tournament. In those seven games, Mendez has also driven in 14 runs. He is 6-for-13 with two home runs and six RBI in the Series.

“He just keeps mashing,” Ward Lannom said.

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