One Step From Williamsport

For the second time in two games, Ocean View Little League of Huntington Beach beat Canyon Del Oro of Tucson at the Little League Western Regional in San Bernardino.

Tuesday’s 3-0 victory put the 11-12 year-old all-stars into Thursday’s 8 p.m. single-game championship final against Hazel Dell of Vancouver, Wash. The winner goes to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., which begins Sunday.

On Saturday, Ocean View hit three home runs in a 14-3 victory over Canyon Del Oro in a game shortened an inning by the 10-run mercy rule. Little League games usually last six innings.

“I knew this team was good, but I didn’t think we’d get this far,” Ocean View catcher James Kang said. “I’m happy about this.”

Pitching has been Ocean View’s strength throughout its playoff run.

Dallas Walters (6-0) started Tuesday and struck out five and walked one. Reliever Chris Palmer survived a bases-loaded jam with no one out in the fifth and closer Hank Conger, who hit his 12th homer of the playoffs in the third inning, struck out the side in the sixth. By using Conger for only one inning, Coach Yun Conger can start his son Thursday night.

“I don’t like to throw my pitchers anymore than four innings,” Yun Conger said. “Our pitchers have come through all year.”

Ocean View is vying to become the fifth county team since 1990 to advance to the Little League World Series.

Tucson miscues once again played a large part in the outcome. Ocean View got its first run in the first inning thanks to a Canyon Del Oro fielding error and a wild pitch and another run in the top of the fifth on a three-base error that Walters followed with a single.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Tucson got a two runners aboard on singles that were hit back through the box.

Jeff Vandoornum made diving attempts to get a glove on each from his position at second base but couldn’t come up with a play. With two out, Tucson’s Gabe Sullivan hit a checked-swing liner to the mound and Walters caught the ball and doubled the runner off at first. Canyon Del Oro got a runner to third in the bottom of the fourth with two out but couldn’t score.

Palmer got into trouble immediately in the fifth, giving up two singles and a walk with none out. But Palmer struck out two of the next three batters he faced.