VFW rolls along

Mike Sciacca

VFW broke open a tight ballgame with the San Juan Capistrano Reds by

scoring five runs in the third inning, which led them to a 6-2 victory in

Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division action.

Keegan Valaika, Devin Hand and Matt Austin each had RBI hits in the

decisive frame, which also saw Alex Shusko knock in a run on an infield

ground out and Kevin Buck and Valaika steal home.

The win kept VFW atop the Majors Division standings.

Gabe Stansbury hit two booming doubles in the game, Hands went two for

two, Charles Moothart had two hits and reached base three times, and

Cooper Gwaltney had a hit.

Buck threw all six innings and recorded seven strikeouts, including a

key strikeout in the third inning when the Reds had loaded the bases.

Buck also made several key defensive stops, two of those coming in the

sixth inning with runners on base.

Valaika, Moothart, Austin and Shusko anchored the infield and Drake

Dixon, Will Armstrong, Colby Ammerman, Hands and Valaika controlled the

outfield.

In other games:

American Legion 6, Hobie 4

A strong pitching effort by Julian Deline led American Legion to

victory. Deline registered nine strikeouts, allowed just one walk and

threw 88 total pitches. Will Burk went three for three, Jordan Zraick

picked up two hits, Jordan O’Brien, Max Parmentier and Christian Kessler

each had hits and Michael Porter and Kyle Snyder scored for American

Legion.

Hobie was powered by Dylan Pierce who had a home run and a single,

Robert Wagner with two hits, singles by Matt Moisen and Mike Praisler and

great defensive play by center fielder Eli Viszolay.

VFW 7, Fire Fighters 3

Devin Hands delivered a two-RBI double and Keegan Valaika had an RBI

double to get VFW in gear in the first inning. Charles Moothart, Hands,

Alex Shusko and Gabe Stansbury all recorded RBI hits to highlight a

second inning outburst that saw VFW score four runs.

Stansbury pitched four solid innings and allowed just one run, and

Valaika threw the final two innings and started two double plays from the

mound.

For the Fire Fighters, Curtis Fetrow went two for two with an RBI and

Daniel Selevan, Graham Harris, Brennan Mulvaney, Max Munoz, Michael Lewis

and Zach Ellis also had hits.

They also recorded a unique double play when right fielder Ryan Maddox

threw to home for the first out, then catcher Graham Harris threw to

Tommy Hopper at second base for the second out, ending a VFW scoring

threat.