Laguna takes second
The Laguna Beach Water Polo Club’s 12-and-under girls’ team went to San Diego last weekend to defend its title at the prestigious San Diego County Cup.
Last year’s 12-U team brought home the gold medal from the second-biggest tournament of the year for age group water polo. This year’s squad was impressive in returning to the championship game, as it featured many new players.
The annual San Diego Cup tournament, in its 17th year, featured 162 teams from all parts of the state and utilized 17 different pools throughout San Diego County. The 12-U girls’ division had 16 different teams.
Laguna placed second in its group in pool play, which put them into the quarterfinals where they were pitted against the first-place finisher in the D bracket, Diablo of the Bay Area. Laguna came out strong and never looked back and won the game, 10-1.
In a semifinal match, the ladies from Laguna defeated United, 10-4, advancing to the final.
Laguna’s opponent in the final was a team from El Toro, SET.
Laguna kept it close and was only one goal down with 1:50 remaining, but SET had too much and pulled away on two fast-break goals to finish the game with a 9-6 win.
This weekend, Laguna will face off against the best teams in its zone, which includes Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties. The top three teams automatically qualify for the national tournament at the end of summer.
Because of Laguna’s success last year, the winner of the qualifier will be seeded No. 1 at the Junior Olympics.
— Scott Baldridge, Community Correspondent
Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division
VFW 8, Hobie 4: VFW kept its first-place hopes alive by defeating Hobie.
VFW starter Nolan Del Toro allowed three runs and struck out five in four innings pitched. He was backed by great fielding plays from first baseman Tommy Ressler, third baseman Nathan Victor, shortstops Dane Olsen and Connor Hauer and catcher Duke Holt.
Michael Shurtleff (second inning) and Tyler Alter (third inning) hit home runs for Hobie. Sawyer Chesley hit in Kenji Lee for the third Hobie run and Drake Butler drove in Alter for the fourth.
Alter also struck out five in the first two innings.
Olsen relieved Del Toro in the fifth and gave up a run with three strikeouts. VFW then put five runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Hank Glazer, Jack Dickenson, Ressler, Del Toro and Hauer all scored.
Olsen closed out the sixth to secure an 8-4 win for VFW.
AA Division
Special K’s 7, Surf Vival 3: The regular season has finally come to an end for Special K’s and along the way, the team experienced some spectacular plays, heart-breaking losses and terrific, come-from-behind wins.
Despite a disappointing regular season record, the K’s ended their season on a high note Saturday with an especially strong pitching performance by aces Christian Holm, Tanner Mauro and Nolan Smith who combined to defeat Surf Vival, 7-3. Standout all-around defensive play kept Surf Vival bats quiet and allowed one last regular-season celebration for the K’s.
Emery 16, Special K’s 14: Thursday night’s first-round playoff match-up between Special K’s and Emery did not disappoint, as Emery held off a late charge by the K’s for the win.
Both teams had good, all-around play including the K’s Conor Kramer who made an incredible, one-handed spear of a ball that had “triple,” written all over it. Add a few umpire skirmishes here and there, and it was a game all the players could all be very proud of.
Emery moves on to play Termites on Saturday, while the K’s play next week.
— PDK, Community Correspondent