La Verne had a good run and looks to be even better in upcoming seasons.

La Verne’s brilliant 9-10 All-Stars will be getting a summer vacation after all, after dropping their winner-take-all rubber match with Upland National, 14-3, at Homer Briggs Park in Ontario on Wednesday night. While Upland National moves on to the divisional tournament in Temple City, La Verne can pull out the swim trunks.

When the game started, it looked as if it were going to be a classic slugfest between the two top teams. In the top of the first Upland scored two runs on Nick Miranda’s two run homer to left.

In the bottom half of the inning, La Verne played little ball just as effectively. Cody Moderow led off with a perfectly executed bunt. Steven Vasquez forced Moderow at second, but Sean Powell followed with a solid single to right to put runners on the corners with just one out. Trevor Caton cashed in Vasquez with a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. Sam Wolfe was hit by a pitch, then Tyson Heaton connected on a wind-aided double to left to score Powell. Chase Siffert lined out to third. After one inning, Upland and La Verne were knotted at 2-2.

In the top of the second, Upland sent eight batters to the plate, scoring three more runs. Joshua Parker led off with a double, but the big blow in the inning came on a bases loaded single by Michael Romero.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the second, La Verne looked poised to have an even bigger inning. Upland’s starting pitcher issued three straight walks and landed awkwardly after walking Vasquez with one out to load the bases. After calling time-out and throwing a couple of practice pitches, Eric Marujo signaled he was ready to retake the hill to face the teeth of the La Verne line-up. On the first pitch, Sean Powell hit a sacrifice fly to give La Verne one run and Caton lined out to short. On just two pitches, Upland recorded two outs, having escaped the inning surrendering just the one run.

Meanwhile, Upland erupted for six runs in the top of the third, using four singles, three walks and an error to pull away for the victory.

The best news for La Verne is it has a top team in the making that will continue to improve over the next two seasons. While La Verne’s boys of summer are starting their summer vacation a little earlier than anticipated, they gave local fans a thrill by winning their division and just missing out on a sectional crown.

Onward and upward! Until, the last one into the pool is a rotten egg!

Make your summer sparkle with a special gift or keepsake from Rodeo Jewelers in La Verne. Whatever the occasion or celebration, Koko can help you pick out the perfect ring, bracelet, necklace, earring or pendant. Rodeo Jewelers is located in the Von’s Shopping Center.