Youth Scene: Big rally leads Hobie to Little League victory

The Laguna Beach Little League Intermediate division playoffs were in full swing last Saturday as league champion Rotary took on second-place Hobie at Riddle Field. Rotary held a 13-4 lead but Hobie staged a big comeback and pulled out a 14-13 victory.

Rotary’s 13-4 advantage was punctuated by a two-run home run by Cooper Noriega and a three-run homer by Nolan Naess. The rest of the Rotary lineup showed strong batting led by Jack Payne and Sol McDermott.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hobie began its comeback by scoring nine runs. Gavin Treviño continued his solid, four-for-five hitting day, Luke Duensing laid down a bunt single to load the bases and Paxton Bruzell followed with a grand slam, his third home run of the game, to knot the score at 13-13.

Rotary recovered and retook the lead in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Logan Parker which scored Maddox deBretteville. Hobie answered in the bottom of the inning and won the game when left-handed first baseman Drew Fink, on his 13th birthday, hit a two-run walk-off home run for a 14-13 final.

The teams meet again Friday at Riddle Field to determine the postseason playoffs champion.

— Reader submission

*

AAA Division

Crescent Bay Advisors 9, Southland Eyecare 1: In a playoff elimination game at Riddle Field Saturday, Crescent Bay Advisors broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning and coasted to victory.

CBA was spectacular in all facets of the game, highlighted by their pitching and defense. Joey Capobianco (5 2/3 innings, one run, four hits, seven strikeouts) nearly pitched a complete game. Baron Smith closed out the win. JD Dix led CBA in the field with outstanding play at shortstop, including four assists and three putouts without an error.

On offense, CBA had a team effort with all but two of its 12 players reaching base. The attack was led by Capobianco (three for three, two doubles, RBI, two runs), Dix (double, run), Bryce Ford (two doubles, walk, two runs) and Taylor Towe (two for three, double, two runs).

Southland was led on the mound by Luke Machin (2 2/3 innings, four runs, six hits, walk, four strikeouts) and Cade Anderton (1 2/3 innings, two runs, three hits, one strikeout). At the plate, Machin run), Lucas McKibben, Matthew Carpino and Marin Huot-Marchand had hits.

— Reader submission