Youth Scene: Laguna 9/10 All-Stars rally
An early deficit in the opening game of the Little League District 55 All-Stars Tournament couldn’t prevent the Laguna Beach 9/10 All-Star team from soaring to a big victory.
The 9/10 All-Stars got the tourney off to a great start by running away from Lake Forest, 15-8, Sunday at Crown Valley Elementary School (Rancho Niguel Little League host).
Laguna trailed by two runs after one inning but pulled to within 3-2 after two innings. From there, its offense kicked into gear and pitching and defense contained Lake Forest.
Nick Bonn pitched the first three innings and Ben Reimers pitched the last three innings for Laguna. The pair held Lake Forest to six hits.
Laguna put away Lake Forest by scoring five runs in the fourth inning. The rally was ignited by a lead-off double by Griffin Naess and included hits by Jett Hamil, Joey Capobianco, Reimers and Brandon Britt. Britt’s RBI put Laguna in the lead for good.
Ten different players had hits in a 16-hit attack. Britt went three for four with four RBIs, Max Burchi was three for five with two RBIs, Naess two for two with an RBI and Bonn had two hits and scored three runs.
“Today’s win was a real team effort with contributions up and down the lineup,” Laguna Manager Tom Reimers said. “We are swinging the bat with a lot of confidence right now. If we can build on that defensively and on the mound, I like our chances against anyone in this tournament.”
Laguna was scheduled to play a winner’s bracket game Thursday against Laguna Niguel. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The double-elimination tournament breaks for the Fourth of July weekend, resumes Tuesday and runs through July 10.
9/10 All-Star Team: Shea Blanchard; Nick Bonn; Brandon Britt; Max Burchi; Joey Capobianco; Bryce Ford; Boden Gillette; Jett Hamil; Luke Machin; Griffin Naess; Ben Reimers; Ryan Strickland; Blake Sullivan. Manager: Tom Reimers. Coaches: Steve Britt, Paul Machin.
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8/9 All-Stars
The Laguna Beach 8/9 All-Star Team opened the Super Stars double-elimination tournament Saturday at Las Lomas Park (Irvine Ranch LL host), and crushed Lake Forest, 14-2.
Laguna bolted to an early lead by scoring seven runs in the opening inning. The offense was led by Sam Burchi (three-run triple) and Ben Dawson (triple, two runs). Manager Chad Anderton called the performance a “total team effort.”
Laguna’s standout defense backed the strong pitching of Cade Anderton, Dylan McEachern and Jack Gallo.
In a winner’s bracket game Sunday, Laguna was shut out by host Irvine Ranch, 7-0. It was a 1-0 game heading into the third where Irvine Ranch parlayed several bunts into a four-run inning.
On offense, Laguna was led by Noah Neufeld (single) and Dawson (single, walk). The defensive highlight for Laguna was a double play between Anderton at shortstop and Neufeld at catcher with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Anderton made a great stop of a shot in the hold between shortstop and third base, back-handed the ball and fired to Neufeld who blocked the plate and tagged a runner attempting to score from third.
Laguna bounced back impressively from that loss by scoring its second double-digit victory of the tournament. The locals eliminated Northwood Tuesday, 13-3.
In another all-around team effort, Laguna put the game away by scoring six runs in the fifth. Among the many offensive stars, Camden Dowers went two for four with a double and three runs scored, Neufeld two for three with a walk and three runs scored, Dawson two for three with a triple, walk and three runs, McEachern two for three with a triple, walk and run scored, and Logan Pointon went two for two with a run scored.
Dowers (4 1/3 innings) gave up two hits, five walks and three runs with two strikeouts. Pointon closed and gave up two runs and struck out two.
Laguna was to face Newport Beach in an elimination game Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The tournament resumes Tuesday and concludes July 11.
8/9 All-Star Team: Cade Anderton; Sam Burchi; Redmond Chesley; Ben Dawson; Camden Dowers; Luke Fetzer; Jack Gallo; Gehrig Mackay; Dylan McEachern; Noah Neufeld; Logan Pointon; Jackson Rowley; Taylor Towe. Manager: Chad Anderton; Coaches: Orin Neufeld, Joe Mackay.
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Intermediate (11/12) All-Stars
Laguna Beach won three games at the district tournament, which ended for the locals June 20 at Woodfield Park (Aliso Viejo LL host).
The All-Stars beat Rancho Niguel (12-6), Northwood (22-3) and Rancho Niguel (11-8), the latter two in back-to-back elimination games. Laguna’s two losses were to Newport Beach (8-5, 17-7).
Intermediate All-Star Team: Ryan Anthony; Paxton Burzell; Caden Capobianco; Connor Fink; Drew Fink; Booker Frith; Luke Lavin; Landon Losey; Nolan Naess; Cooper Noriega; Quinn Novick; Jack Payne; Gavin Trevino. Manager: Coby Naess. Coaches: Mike Fink, Lee Novick.
— From staff reports