Abran Vergara is smothered at home plate after his first home run. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

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Action from Thursday Night:

Western battled back through the Elimination Bracket to beat CDO 12-2 in the 9-11 Baseball championship held at Kreigh Park. Western (6-1) was sent to the Elimination Bracket by CDO last Wednesday and the team regrouped and won four games in a row to capture the championship.

Western hit four home runs in the championship game including a leadoff shot from Anthony Taylor, two home runs from Abran Vergara and a three-run walk-off blast from Jayden Leon in the bottom of the fifth.

Vergara, a fifth-grader from Mansfield, was understandably excited about his home runs. “I feel very good because they were my first home runs ever,” Vergara said. “Our team worked hard and never gave up and I helped a little.”

Western beat CDO 13-3 on Wednesday night to force the “if game” under the double-elimination format. CDO was limited to six hits on Thursday with Emry Lopez picking up two of those including an RBI in the top of the fifth.

(Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

Micah Ruan, Zane Giron, Jake Newlin and Cruz Horn all had hits with Horn picking up an RBI. Julian Palmieri started the game for CDO with Ruan and Giron coming in later in the game.

Andres Castro took the mound for Western and he had an RBI double in the game. Taylor went 2-4 with the home run, Maddox Jones had a hit, Leon went 3-3 with his home run, Jorge Castro had a double, Vergara went 3-3 with his two home runs and Rueben Carreon had a single.

Western will advance to the state tournament in Show Low scheduled to start on July 17.

(Sabrina Villegas Photo)

Sunnyside beat Copper Hills 12-3 to win the District Little League softball championship. The team from Mission Manor went 3-1 and beat Copper Hills twice to take the championship. Sunnyside will travel to Gilbert for the state tournament scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 5 at Old McQueen Park in Gilbert.

Sunnyside beat San Xavier 8-4 to win the Senior League Baseball championship held at Manzanita. Sunnyside will face the Nogales representative on Monday, July 10 at Arthur Pack at 5 p.m. in the first round of the state tournament.

Sunnyside beat San Xavier 31-23 in 8-10 softball action held in Sahuarita. Sunnyside has to beat Copper Hills twice to win the championship although Copper Hills beat Sunnyside 18-1 on Tuesday. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.

Nogales will be hosting the 50/70 state tournament (July 6), Thornydale will be hosting the Senior League state tournament (July 10) and the 9-11 state softball tournament (July 10) and Sunnyside will be hosting the state Senior Softball tournament (July 5).

Julian Palmieri got the start for CDO (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

DISTRICT 5 LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STARS

8-10 Baseball: SABINO CANYON CHAMPIONS

9-10 Softball: THORNYDALE CHAMPIONS

9-11 Baseball: WESTERN CHAMPIONS

9-11 Softball: THORNYDALE CHAMPIONS

LL Baseball: WESTERN CHAMPIONS

LL Softball: THORNYDALE CHAMPIONS

50/70 Baseball: WESTERN CHAMPIONS

Junior Baseball: CONTINENTAL RANCH CHAMPIONS

Junior Softball: THORNYDALE CHAMPIONS

DISTRICT 12 LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STARS

8-10 Baseball: Palo Verde/Freedom Park

Saturday, July 1
San Xavier at Palo Verde, 6:30 p.m.

8-10 Softball: Anamax Park

Thursday, June 29
Sunnyside 31, San Xavier 23

Friday, June 30: Championship Game
Copper Hills vs. Sunnyside, 6:30 p.m.

9-11 Baseball: Freedom Park

Thursday, June 29
Sunnyside 14, Randolph 13
Pantano 9, Santa Rita 7

Saturday, July 1
Rincon vs. Copper Hulls, 5:15 p.m.
Sunnyside vs. Pantano, 7:45 p.m.

LL Baseball: Purple Heart

Friday, June 30
Palo Verde vs. American, 5:15 p.m.
Los Ninos vs. Sunnyside, 6:30 p.m.
Pantano vs. San Xavier, 7:45 p.m.

LL Softball: SUNNYSIDE CHAMPIONS

50/70 Baseball: SUNNYSIDE CHAMPIONS

Junior Baseball: Manzanita Park

Monday, July 3
San Xavier vs. Los Ninos, 6:30 p.m.

Junior Softball: SUNNYSIDE CHAMPIONS

Senior Baseball: SUNNYSIDE CHAMPIONS

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com