VFW keeps a share of first

Mike Sciacca, Coastline Pilot

It was “Grandparents Day” at Riddle Field on Saturday, and VFW marked

the celebration by defeating Hobie, 12-0, in Majors Division play at

Laguna Beach Little League.

VFW cranked up the offense and the victory gave them sole possession

for first place in the division standings.

Kevin Buck, playing before his maternal grandparents, shook off a bunt

sign in the top of the first inning to blast a home run over the left

field fence. His homer scored Charles Moothart, who began the game with a

single.

In the fourth inning, Alex Shusko, playing in front of his paternal

grandparents, nailed a 3-1 pitch to straight away center field for a

two-run home run. His hit just cleared the fence, caroming off the top

for his first career dinger.

Shusko’s offensive prowess also included three hits while Buck

finished with two hits and three RBI.

Also contributing to the attack were Devin Hands with two hits and

three RBI, Cooper Gwaltney and Will Armstrong with a hit and RBI,

Moothart had two hits and Keegan Valaika, Matt Austin and Drake Dixon

each had a hit.

Colby Ammerman pitched three scoreless innings, two without allowing

Hobie a base runner. He was backed by the defensive play of Dixon, who

had three assists in the field, including an over-the-shoulder grab of a

ground ball.

The third inning also featured a left field-to-shorstop-to-third

base-to-catcher relay/pickle that kept Hobie off the scoreboard.

Valaika also pitched a scoreless inning.

In other games:

Hobie 5, Laguna Surf & Sport 4

Following a blistering first inning of action, which saw both teams

score three runs, the game turned into a pitching duel and Hobie came up

with just enough offense to knock Laguna Surf & Sport from a share of

first place.

Dillon Pierce had a huge game for Hobie. He delivered a pair of

doubles and an RBI, scored the winning run in the fifth inning, and

retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings.

Teammates Matthew Moison had a two-RBI single and Nikko Okomoto-Coen

singled. Chris Kennedy also pitched an inning, and the defensive support

of Jordon Johnson, Zac Johnson, Brett Simons, Robert Wagner, Shane

Snyder, Jaime Melchor and John Wes Robinson put a cap on Hobie’s big win.

Cleanup hitter Christian Bosworth powered Laguna Surf & Sport in the

first inning by belting a 2-1 pitch for a three-run home run over the

right-center field fence.

Alex Garakian had an RBI, Cain Fair singled and Dalton Sype, who

pitched a complete game, struck out seven of the 13 batters he faced over

the final three innings for Laguna Surf & Sport.

VFW 4, American Legion 3

VFW rallied to score two runs in their last at-bat to get past

American Legion.

Leadoff man Charles Moothart started the rally with his second hit of

the game, a single to center. He was sacrificed to second by Colby

Ammerman and scored when Kevin Buck hit his second single of the game.

One out later, Alex Shusko stroked a full count single to score Buck with

the winning run.

Buck finished with three RBI, Devin Hands doubled and Keegan Valaika

singled for VFW, which began a rally from a 2-0 deficit by scoring a run

in the fifth inning.

Buck also pitched three scoreless innings, Ammerman thew one scoreless

frame, Hands made several key catches in center field and one at

shortstop and Shusko made a game-saving catch in the top of the sixth

inning, stabbing a liner at first base for the final out after American

Legion had loaded the bases.

Julian Deline pitched a brilliant six innings for American Legion. He

struck out nine and stranded five baserunners in scoring position.

Christian Kessler and Andrew Paddon had two hits each and Mike Porter had

a double.