Youth Scene: Little League postseason underway
In the past week, four Laguna Beach Little League teams took the next step in their respective season by starting play in the District 55 All-Star Tournament.
Through Tuesday, three Laguna Beach teams were still alive in the double-elimination event.
The district tournament is on hiatus Friday but resumes with championship and elimination bracket play Saturday.
The All-Star tournament continues Sunday and runs daily through Wednesday.
Below are opening results for the Laguna Beach All-Star teams.
Little League (12-year-old) All-Stars
The Laguna Beach Little League All-Stars opened the district tournament Tuesday against Laguna Niguel, and was handed a 13-1 defeat at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo.
The loss put Laguna in an elimination game Thursday against either Laguna Niguel. The score from Thursday’s game wasn’t available at press time. The winner moves on to face Aliso Viejo at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The 12-Year-Old All-Stars: Lance Detweiler, Ayrton Garcia, Jeremy Hayes, Brooks Hogenauer, Adam Kerfoot, Trey Lockhart, James Loughlin, Nick Lucas, Josh Meiswinkel, Charlie Pillsbury, Enzo Sanchez, Nolan Smith. Alternates: Zack Bonnin, John Phelan, Max Shuster. Manager: Rob Smith. Coaches: Tim Loughlin, Taylor Pillsbury, Neil Detweiler, Ken Hogenauer.
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10/11 All-Stars
The Laguna Beach 10/11 All-Stars had the task of starting district play against Aliso Viejo, and fell, 6-1, to the defending 9/10 All-Stars division champions at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo.
Laguna responded to the loss by crushing Lake Forest, 13-1, in an elimination game Wednesday.
Aliso Viejo scored two runs in its first at-bat but Laguna responded with a run in the second inning to close to within 2-1. That score remained the same until the fourth where Aliso Viejo scored twice more in the top-half of the inning, and added two insurance runs in the sixth, to pull away.
Jamie Mackay threw 4 1/3 innings for Laguna and “did great,” Laguna Manager Coby Naess said.
“(He) held their potent offense, kept us in the game and gave us a chance,” Naess said.
Paxton Burzell saw relief action and retired the final two batters he faced.
Offensively for Laguna, Connor Fink doubled and drove in Nolan Naess (who walked) who scored from first base, for Beach’s lone run.
Laguna threatened in the fifth by putting runners at the corners with one out, but couldn’t score.
“Us coaches are very proud of the kids as we battled against a great team (Aliso Viejo) with two very tough pitchers,” Coby Naess said. “We had lost to them (4-1) in the championship game of the 9/10 All-Stars division last year, and this game was much of the same. Just could not get our bats going.”
The 10/11 All-Stars took on Lake Forest Wednesday in an elimination game. The score wasn’t available at press time.
In Wednesday’s 13-1 win against Lake Forest, Laguna paired a potent offense with a strong defensive performance to stay alive in the tournament. Burzell, Naess, Jack Payne and George Williams each pitched an inning in the mercy-rule game.
Laguna Beach advances to another elimination game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Woodfield Park against either Laguna Niguel or Aliso Viejo.
The 10/11 All-Stars: Paxton Burzell, Caden Capobianco, Connor Fink, Booker Frith, Wyatt Gillespie, Luke Lavin, Landon Losey, Jamie Mackay, Nolan Naess, Jack Payne, Sam Schineller, Gavin Trevino, George Williams, Drew Fink, Aiden McDennon. Manager: Coby Naess. Coaches: Dave Frith, Dana Mackay.
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9/10 All-Stars
The Laguna Beach 9/10 All-Star team dropped its district opener but has battled back to win two-straight to stay alive in the tournament at Heroes Park in Lake Forest.
Laguna fell, 16-1, to Newport Beach National in its opener Saturday but, in consecutive elimination games, bounced back to defeat Irvine Ranch, 10-7, Sunday, and Laguna Hills, 6-3, Tuesday.
In the 10-7 win over Irvine Ranch, Ben Reimers was solid in three innings pitched with six strikeouts. Bonn and Joe Capobianco closed the game.
Laguna lead-off batter Ashten Rea went four for four with a triple and Bonn, Griffin Naess, Matt Burk and Oliver Mackel each contributed with their bats and scored a combined 10 runs.
Laguna Hills scored a run in the sixth inning, giving Capobianco a test of character on the mound but in the end, he closed out the win.
In its 6-3 win over Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach had trailed, 3-1, in the bottom of the second inning when Riley Gapp sent a hit to deep right field and drove in two runs and then a Rimers scored Naess to give Laguna Beach the lead for good.
Naess started on the mound and struck out six in four innings. Bonn closed the game and struck out five of six batters he faced.
By staying alive with the two wins, Laguna advances to another elimination game at 1 p.m. Saturday and will take on Newport Beach National.
The 9/10 All-Stars: Matt Berk, Nick Bonn, Maddox de Bretteville, Joe Capobianco, Riley Gapp, Kai Gillies, Lucas Jablon, Oliver Mackel, Griffin Naess, Ashten Rea, Ben Reimers, Jackson Sirianni. Alternates: Max Burchi, Chase Hall, Brandon Lindsay. Manager: Malcolm Gapp. Coaches: Tom Reimers, Chris Sirianni.
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8/9 All-Stars
The Laguna Beach 8/9 All-Stars dropped their first two games at the district tournament at Las Lomas Park in Irvine.
Laguna was defeated, 16-3, in its opener Saturday by Newport Beach National, and was eliminated from the tournament following a 13-3 loss Tuesday to Newport Beach American.
Leading the Laguna offense during the tournament were Noah Neufeld (.600 avg.), Brandon Britt, Bryce Ford, Noah Liao and Luke Machin. JD Dix made the “catch of the year” in center field at the tournament, Manager Paul Machin said.
“The players gave their all but came up against a buzz saw All-Star team from Newport Beach (National),” Machin said. “We hit the ball well at times and pitched well at times but it wasn’t enough to take down a strong aggressive team.
“Thank you to the coaches for the many hours they spent working with the team and getting them ready to play. And, thanks to the parents who supported the team effort.”
The 8/9 All-Stars: Cade Anderton, Brandon Britt, Davis Dix, JD Dix, Bryce Ford, Boden Gillette, Jake Lavin, Noah Liao, Luke Machin, Ben Neufeld, Noah Neufeld, Jimmy Redfern. Alternates: Shea Blanchard, Mason Herr, Eric Olsen. Manager: Paul Machin. Coaches: Steve Britt, Oren Neufeld, Chad Anderton, Michael Blanchard.
— From staff reports