Whitter wins large division

Photos

COSTA MESA — One by one, the third-grade boys from Whittier Elementary ran through the tunnel the parents made at midfield standing side by side, arms pointing toward the sky.

It seemed to be a fitting ending to an extraordinary run through the ninth annual Daily Pilot Cup soccer tournament. The Whittier boys, who went 5-0 in the tournament and outscored opponents, 24-10, captured the silver division championship playing against teams that had fourth-graders. Whittier has grades kindergarten through third. Next year, it will add fourth-grade students.

In addition, the Whittier A team brought back the Daily Pilot Cup trophy to its school winning the largest division (24 teams) in the tournament. That must be why the Whittier boys cheerfully poured water bottles over their coach, Patrick DeVusser, after their 5-2 win over Rea B Sunday at the Costa Mesa Farm Complex.

“They played with a lot of energy,” DeVusser said of his boys. “They never quit and they were always listening to us for instructions. They are awesome. They just keep coming back. They have energy beyond what we can think of. They never stop. That’s truly amazing. For an adult to watch third-graders run, run run and run, it’s awesome.”

Whittier’s performance during the title game was assuredly awe inspiring. Several gasps could be heard throughout the crowd at the game, sounds of disbelief in the ability that the Whittier boys showed. They were quick to 50-50 balls, passed constantly and used a quick pace throughout the game, even when they secured victory.

All that against a Rea team that entered undefeated at 4-0 into the title game. It seemed as if Whittier had a tougher time in the semifinal, edging Wilson A, 5-4, Saturday. Rea beat Lincoln B, 5-2, in its semifinal.

“They put a lot of heart into it,” Rea Coach Jesus Silva said of his team’s play throughout the tournament. “We were a team that was coming from behind all the time. [The Sharks] knew we had to play the whole game to pull it out. These kids put it all out there. I’m really proud of them.”

Whittier certainly left it all out on the field, too. Oscar Davila scored the game’s first goal, giving Whittier an early lead. Raul Guerrero followed with a goal of his own, his 13th in the tournament.

But Noel Tadeo answered for the Sharks to put Rea within, 2-1.

However, Christian Sanchez provided Whittier with a two-goal lead again after his goal with two seconds left before halftime.

Alex Aviso scored early in the second half to put Whittier up, 4-1. With 13 minutes remaining, Jorge De La Torre found the back of the net for Rea.

Whittier’s David Bernal closed out the scoring in the waning moments.

DeVusser, who is in his third year coaching on this level in the Daily Pilot Cup, named Sanchez and Guerrero as his top offensive players for the tournament. Jesse Campano and Manny Hernandez, both goalies, were his top defensive players.

“Christian and Raul G. were outstanding players,” said DeVusser, who also had a Whittier third-grade team win a Silver Division title two years ago. “But they had a great supporting cast.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at steve.virgen@latimes.com.