Charge lifts VFW past Firefighters

VFW rode a five-run fifth inning to victory at Riddle Field as it

went on to record a 5-3 win in Laguna Beach Little League Majors

Division postseason tournament action.

With loaded bases and one out, Cooper Gwaltney drove in one run

and another scored on an overthrow.

Logan Schoembs followed with a perfectly executed bunt single

before Casey Miller’s ground out scored the third run of the inning.

Will Armstrong ended the scoring spree when his double up the gap

in right-center field scored two runs.

Taylor Blacketer, back from the disabled list, had two hits and

Mikey Rubel and Gabe Stansbury each had base hits.

Alex Shusko pitched 5 2/3 innings for VFW. He came on in relief

in the opening inning with runners at the corners and the

Firefighters holding a 1-0 lead.

Shusko gave up an RBI single to Ian Greene before settling down.

He finished the game with seven strikeouts and allowed the

Firefighters just one more run in the fourth inning.

Adam Selevan reached base in all four plate appearances with a

pair of walks, single and double. Brennan Mulvaney had a single and

RBI, Spencer Freidenrich singled twice, Matt Boesche doubled and

Graham Harris drove in a run.

In other tournament play:

VFW 5, Rotary 3

Gabe Stansbury’s outstanding performance powered VFW to a

tournament-opening win.

Stansbury did not give up a hit in six innings on the mound. He

struck out nine.

Offensively, he smashed a two-run home run in the first inning.

Later, he singled in another run in the second frame and walked to

force in a run in the fourth.

VFW leadoff hitter Alex Shusko drew three walks and scored two

runs, Logan Schoembs singled twice, Mikey Rubel doubled and Drake

Dixon singled.

Will Armstrong walked twice and scored VFW’s fifth run.

Lee Thomas and Raphael Vickers each had an RBI to lead Rotary.

Firefighters 9, American Legion 2

Ian Greene belted a grand slam home run in the first inning to

propel the Firefighters to victory.

Brennan Mulvaney added to the Firefighter highlights reel with a

two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Michael Lewis and Graham Harris each had key hits during the

frame.

Daniel Selevan pitched a complete-game victory.