It's Huntington Valley's time now

Ocean View Little League's magical summer began last year with a District 62 title and ended with a World Series championship in Williamsport, Pa. But there was a changing of the guard Monday night at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

Huntington Valley dug its way out of a three-run hole against Ocean View and went on the dethrone the reigning champs, 8-3, to win the District 62 Major Division All-Star Tournament.

Huntington Valley, which went undefeated in the tournament, advances to Section tournament play July 14 at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo. It did so despite falling behind by three runs after the first inning, thanks in part to a two-run home run by Andrew O'Brien.

O'Brien also clubbed a big home run in Saturday's extra-inning loss to Huntington Valley.

"What we told our team coming in was that the pressure was off," Huntington Valley Manager Scott Glascoe said. "We got down three (runs) and we told the kids, 'let's just go out there and play the game, one inning at a time.' This is a loose group that is confident, but not over-confident. They just jell together and when we came right back after being down, it really got them going."

Ocean View's lead lasted just four batters into the top of the second. With one out and two on, No. 8 batter Werner Reither drilled a home run to left-center field to tie the score. Two batters later, Huntington Valley took the lead for good when Luke Glascoe hit an opposite field, solo home run that banged off the light standard pole behind the fence in left field.

The three-run shot was the third home run in the past week for Reither, who hit two in a 25-0 victory over Westminster June 26.

Luke Glascoe's homer was the first of his Little League career.

"He was outstanding at the plate during the tournament," Scott Glascoe said of Reither. "And, it was a big thrill tonight for Luke...and me."

Huntington Valley — which scored 39 runs and surrendered eight in four tournament games — stayed undefeated in the tournament by winning a 4-3 thriller in eight innings against Ocean View on Saturday. Huntington Valley scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth when, with two out, Michael Marquez sent a slow roller down the third-base line and beat out the throw to first base, resulting in Austin Heberden scoring from third on the play.

Ocean View earned a rematch Monday with Huntington Valley after defeating Seaview, 7-3, in an elimination game Saturday.