With Little League District 67 All-Star play a week away and both Spreckels Park junior division programs set to meet in an all-or-nothing bout to decide the Tournament of Champions, coaches decided to rally the troops a little early on Monday, June 22.

The programs settled for co-championship honors rather than play their scheduled finale, posing for pictures and celebrating together at Paul Weston Park in Weston Ranch.

The move wasn’t supported by all, but with all-star playoffs looming and the TOC the final step in a pre-all-star postseason, it was an easy call for Bulldogs coach Eddie Koeller and Titans manager Chris Van Warmerdam.

“At the beginning of the season, we had 24 kids in the junior division for one team and we had to figure out what to do,” Van Warmerdam said. “We just decided that we should have co-champions and prepare ourselves for all-stars, but it did not go over too well with some of the parents and local media.”

Spreckels will head into the all-star bracket with the momentum of stellar tournament performances from both programs and a squad stacked with talented arms and bats.

“We are going to be playing some much better teams now that these other leagues are bringing in their all-stars,” Van Warmerdam said. “We have the talent. We just need to catch balls, field balls and hit balls, and the rest should take care of itself.”

The Titans forced Monday’s finale after ousting the Bulldogs 3-2 on Sunday, June 21, to avenge a loss to the Bulldogs earlier in the tournament.

Bryson Sanders and Buddy Reeder combined for the win for the Titans, while Anthony Flores pitched a sharp game to lead the Bulldogs.

Jayson Manuta finished 2-for-3 to lead the Titans, Reeder batted 2-for-4 and Justin Canady went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Bulldogs were led by a 2-for-3 performance from Zach Leon-Guerrero (double). Flores (RBI) and Jonathan Barry managed timely hits.

The Titans broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off RBI single by Reeder.

“This was truly a championship game the way the Bulldogs and Titans played for hard-fought runs,” Van Warmerdam said. “The kids learned a lot about how to play baseball and saw how teamwork and focus can win you a ball game.”

Spreckels Park will take on Tracy National at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27, to begin all-star play at Salida Elementary. Lathrop plays Mountain House at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

• Contact Sports Editor Ike Dodson at 239-6351, ext. 306, or ike@sunpost.net.