Laguna teams suffer tough losses

Laguna Beach Little League sent five teams into the 2011 Little League District 55 All-Star Tournament and as of Thursday, only two of those teams remained in title contention.

The tournament took a break for the Fourth of July weekend and resumes Tuesday.

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Majors

Laguna Beach opened tournament play Saturday with a 7-3 win over Lake Forest. On Sunday, the outcome wasn’t as kind to the locals, who lost a tough 3-2 game to Central Irvine.

Laguna played Newport Beach American on Thursday in an elimination game. The score wasn’t available at press time.

In Saturday’s win over Lake Forest, Dante Faicchio struck out nine over 5 2/3 innings and also smacked a two-run home run.

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10/11

Laguna Beach had its tourney run end Monday following a 1-0 loss to Newport Beach American. Laguna also dropped its opener Saturday, 15-1, to Aliso Viejo.

Pitching dominated Monday’s game between Laguna and Newport Beach American. Jack Wills threw five innings and didn’t allow a run for Laguna. He was backed by a solid defense that included key plays from Dylan Smith, John Langton, Remy Mackel, Connor Brashier and Lance Stewart.

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9/10

Laguna Beach was eliminated from tournament play Monday following a 14-3 loss to Northwood at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo. Laguna also had dropped its opener Saturday, 15-1, to Lake Forest.

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9-year-old

Laguna Beach came up one victory short of winning a district title.

On Sunday ) at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo, Laguna fell in the division’s championship game, 18-5, to Aliso Viejo. The host team, whom Laguna had defeated earlier in the tournament, stayed alive in the tourney by handing Laguna its first loss, 17-7, on Saturday.

Laguna fielded only 10 players for the weekend finale.

Laguna Manager Taylor Pillsbury said that players Nolan Smith and Trey Lockhart “really stepped up” for Laguna in the final two games against Aliso Viejo. Both, he said, pitched for the first time in the tournament and contributed big hits and key defensive plays.

“All in all, we had a good (tournament) run,” Pillsbury said. “For the 12 years I’ve been involved with the league, I can’t recall another Laguna Beach team making it to the finals in an All-Star tournament.”

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Juniors

Laguna Beach fell to Laguna Hills, 20-4, in a tournament opener for both teams Saturday. Laguna Beach took on Central Irvine on Thursday in an elimination game, but the score wasn’t available at press time.