Laguna Beach Little League opens its season

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VFW’s Ryan Strickland, left, shakes hands with Rotary’s Noah Liao during the opening game for Laguna Beach Little League intermediate division at Riddle Field on Friday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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VFW’s Zade Harrison, 11, plays the National Anthem on his guitar during the opening day ceremony for Laguna Beach Little League.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Members of the VFW intermediate division say the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Rotary’s Griffin Ness dives for an infield popup during the opening for Laguna Beach Little Leage at Riddle Field on Friday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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VFW’s Aaron Childs is mobbed by his teammates after he hit a three-run home run against Rotary during the opening game.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Laguna Beach High School’s Ashton Goddard throws out the first pitch during the opening day for Laguna Beach Little League.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

March 4, 2017 4:58 PM PT

L aguna Beach Little League kicked off its season in style Friday night at Riddle Field.

Arnie Silverman, a trustee from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5868 in Laguna, led the flag ceremony and Pledge of Allegiance, while Zade Harrison performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” on an electric guitar. League President Chad Anderton provided opening remarks.

Ashton Goddard, who threw a complete-game shutout in Laguna Beach’s High’s 2-0 victory over Fontana Kaiser in June, which clinched the school’s first CIF Southern Section championship in baseball, threw out the first pitch Friday, accompanied by teammates.

The first game of the season soon followed with Rotary facing VFW.

Little Leagues in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley scheduled their opening days for Saturday.

The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. also opened the season Saturday, and the Newport Beach Baseball Assn. starts play March 11.