Huntington Valley prevails in extra innings

For the second time in the Southern California Divisional Tournament, the Huntington Valley Little League 12-and-under All-Stars faced Temple City National on Friday night.

Huntington Valley was one pitch away from eliminating Temple City National, but the teams battled deeper into the night at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo.

Temple City National’s Ethan Corral tripled home the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and the teams were tied at 3-3 in the eighth inning.

But Huntington Valley’s Gavin Pacheco and Bradley Morlett each had run-scoring singles in the ninth inning as Huntington Valley secured a 5-3 extra-inning win.

Huntington Valley will play Park View of Chula Vista in the possible tournament title game Saturday at 1 p.m. back at Woodfield Park. Since Huntington Valley has one loss in the tournament and Park View is undefeated, Huntington Valley would need to win on Saturday and again on Sunday to advance to the Little League West Region tournament beginning Aug. 5 in San Bernardino.

Huntington Valley starting pitcher Noah Stockman got out of a bases-loaded, no outs jam in the bottom of the first. He struck out the next batter before inducing a double-play ball to shortstop.

Stockman nearly did the same in the bottom of the third, when Temple City National again loaded the bases with no outs.

After Cayden Bonura drew a full-count walk, Daniel Ruiz singled to center and Jaykob Duhamel was hit by a pitch. Stockman recovered to strike out the next two batters, but Temple City National still scored twice.

Matteo Estrada walked to force in a run, then Ruiz scored on a wild pitch.

Huntington Valley responded in the top of the fourth, when Tony Martinez led off with a solo home run. It was the third straight game in the tournament in which Martinez has left the yard.

Huntington Valley then scored twice in the top of the fifth to take its first lead, 3-2. Douglas Crystal, Stockman and Martinez all walked to load the bases with one out, then Gage Everson also walked to force in a run.

Slater Vaughan then hit a fly ball to deep right-center field, and the ball was dropped by the outfielder. Stockman easily scored the go-ahead run.

Stockman would pitch five innings and 85 pitches. He allowed two runs on two hits, walking two and striking out six.

Huntington Valley had the bases loaded in the top of the sixth for Martinez, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop.

Morlett came in to close out the game in the bottom of the inning. Stockman, now at third base, dove to his left to snag the first out of the inning and threw to first. After a single, Thomas leaped to catch a soft line drive to first, putting Huntington Valley one out away.

But Corral lined a 1-2 pitch to right, just past the diving Huntington Valley outfielder. Estrada scored all the way from first base.

matthew.szabo@latimes.com

Twitter: @mjszabo