Hobie, CBA capture postseason tournaments

Hobie claimed the 2012 Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division postseason tournament by defeating VFW, 5-1, in the final at Riddle Field.

Both teams advance to the District 55 Tournament of Champions, which starts Saturday at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel.

Hobie never trailed in the final. With one out in the first inning, Jack Wills was hit by a pitch and Josh McManus singled, before Jack Loechner doubled home both runners. A double by Thomas Garcia scored Loechner for a 3-0 lead.

VFW starter John Langton didn’t allow a run during the next four innings. In the sixth, Hobie scored two insurance runs off VFW reliever Sam Burgi. Both Connor Sorensen and Grady Morgan drew walks and Sorensen scored on a sacrifice fly by Wills and Morgan later scored on a fielding error to make it 5-1.

Loechner took the mound for Hobie and threw an outstanding game, striking out 13 in five innings. Dean Nunis hit a towering home run to left field for VFW’s only run. VFW threatened by bases loaded in the fourth inning, but Loechner was able to pitch out of the jam with two strikeouts to end the inning. Wills took the mound for Hobie in the sixth and struck out the side.

Hobie went 3-0 in the double-elimination event and outscored its opponents, 24-3.They beat Sportsworld, 15-1, and defeated VFW, 4-1 and 5-1.

VFW went 2-2 in tourney play. In addition to its two losses to Hobie (4-1, 5-1), it beat Rotary twice (4 -1, 5-2).

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AAA Division

Crescent Bay Advisors takes title: After winning the division’s regular-season championships with a 12-3-1 record, Crescent Bay Advisors worked its way through the second-chance bracket of the postseason tournament to take the title. An 8-0 victory over UPS in the division final at Riddle Field capped four straight wins for CBA.

CBA came out strong and scored five runs in the first two innings. Johnny Phelan, Will Potratz and Nolan Naess all went two for two on offense. Doubles by Nicholas Lucas and Nate Magers scored key runs. Adam Kerfoot had a key at-bat in the fourth by drawing a walk that sparked a rally, and Cooper Noriega added a run-scoring single.

Magers started for CBA and struck out four in 4 2/3 innings. Nolan Smith closed out the game on a strikeout. The CBA infield defense was led by the play of Smith at shortstop, Noah Linder at third base and Caden Capobianco at second base. Will Clark played in center field and caught the final inning.

“CBA is made up of a bunch of hard working, team-first type kids,” said Manager Coby Naess, who coaches the team along with Brad Magers, Rob Smith and Rod Potratz. “The boys all pull for each other and that camaraderie would carry over into their outstanding play on the field. It’s a great group of kids that us coaches really enjoyed working with.”

CBA and Morgan Stanley, which finished in second place during the regular season, will represent Laguna Beach Little League at the District 55 Tournament of Champions, which starts Saturday.

Naess said that Wes Abrahams, a key contributor for CBA this season, will return to the team for the District 55 Tournament of Champions. Abrahams has been sidelined the past three weeks because of a broken thumb.

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District 55 Tournament of Champions

The District 55 Tournament of Champions starts Saturday for all divisions. The tournament runs through June 9. Below is a listing of opening games involving Laguna Beach Little League teams:

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Major DivisionSaturday

(at Chapparosa Park, Laguna Niguel)

3 p.m.: Laguna Beach VFW vs. Laguna Hills No. 1

6 p.m.: Laguna Beach Hobie vs. Rancho Niguel No. 2

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Minor DivisionSaturday

(at Riddle Field, Laguna Beach LL)

9 a.m.: Laguna Beach Crescent Bay Advisors vs. Rancho Niguel No. 2

((at La Paz Field, Laguna Niguel)

4 p.m.: Laguna Beach Morgan Stanley vs. Aliso Viejo No. 1

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Junior National Division

(at Chapparosa Park)

10 a.m.: Laguna Beach Firefighters vs. Aliso Viejo Cubs

1 p.m.: Laguna Beach McKenna Porche vs. Aliso Viejo Giants