La Cañada Mustang team marches to Walnut

A very successful weekend turned into a triumphant beginning of the week for the La Cañada Mustang 10-and under baseball team.

La Cañada defeated West Covina, 11-8, in Monday afternoon’s Section 2 seven-team tournament championship game held at La Cañada High for the right to advance to Walnut for the PONY Regional Tournament held between Thursday and Tuesday.

The winner of that tournament advances to the Super Regional Tournament in San Marcos.

The victory highlighted a strong tournament for La Cañada, which defeated all its three opponents by a combined score of 44-16.

Matthew Winnek capped a strong offensive start for La Cañada, which jumped out to a 9-2 advantage after the youngster’s homer.

To its credit, West Covina climbed back within 9-7 heading into the sixth before La Cañada added some distance on a two-run double from Buddy Arnold that scored teammates Brock Vradenburg and Tai Walton.

West Covina added one run in the sixth before Walton closed the door with a save.

Vradenburg was a catalyst for his team’s success Monday evening, as he struck out seven batters over seven innings, while allowing three hits. He also had four hits in the contest.

The team, guided by Coach Chris Wilson and assistants Todd Vradenburg and Tom James, consists of Kyle Osornia, Sean Ko, Winnek, Robby Wilson, Matthew Spitz, Charlie James, Arnold, Vradenburg, Walton, Jacob Buntich, Nathan Longwell, Liam Hartman, and Luke Dickie.