Northridge Kids Try to Double Their Fun : Little League: Two squads attempt to emulate last year’s championship team on tournament trail.

Here they go again.

Two Northridge Little League squads--one accomplished, the other striving to be--have advanced to divisional tournaments starting today.

Managed by Warren Plouffe, the 12-year-old team plays at 1:30 at Curtis Park in Mission Viejo.

After sweeping eight games culminating in district and sectional championships--including Thursday’s 9-6 victory over Lemoore -- the team is two double-elimination tournaments away from the nationally televised Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Eleven of the 14 members of the 13-year-old squad--managed this season by Tim Cunningham--were on last year’s national champion 12-year-old club.

With district and sectional tournaments out of the way, the group is focusing on a new, less ballyhooed final destination: Taylor, Mich.

Its journey continues today at 4 at Brookside Field in Pasadena. “Last year, we had more to prove, because no one thought we could do anything,” said outfielder Spencer Gordon.

“Now we’re trying to show everyone we can still do it.”

The teams have more in common than the name on their jerseys and a disdain for loser’s brackets.

Greg Wallis, a third baseman on the title team, is a key cog in the new 12-year-old squad as well. John Michael Baca, son of championship Manager Larry Baca, is his teammate once more.

A reserve a year ago, the younger Baca is the 12-year-olds’ starting center fielder.

Other top players are hot-hitting shortstop Jimmy Sharp and workhorse pitcher Marshall Plouffe.

With every victory, the club slides a bit further out of its lengthy shadow of last year’s championship team.

Coach Dennis Paschal stressed that this is not the same team as the one that tore up Williamsport in 1994.

“We have kind of squelched the pressure,” Paschal said.

“Our goal was just to hang one [district] flag on the wall.”

They have hung two. Might as well go for three more.