With Jackson on hand, VFW wins majors title

Mike Sciacca

VFW recorded its ninth consecutive victory and wrapped up the Majors

Division championship in the process as they defeated Sports World, 12-4,

in Laguna Beach Little League action this week.

The victory gained added luster as Major League Baseball Hall of Famer

Reggie Jackson was in attendance.

After spending a few minutes with the VFW squad, baseball’s “Mr.

October” met up with all the players and fans, and signed autographs.

VFW put on a show for Jackson as they pounded out 17 hits and scored

four runs in each of the first three innings as they improved to 14-1

with one game left in the regular season.

Leadoff batter Charles Moothart went four for four and scored three

runs. Kevin Buck had two hits and knocked in three runs and Keegan

Valaika, Alex Shusko and Matt Austin each matched two hits with two RBI.

Shusko and Colby Ammerman each reached base in all three of their

offensive appearances. Will Armstrong scored two runs and Gabe Stansbury

banged an RBI double in addition to scoring twice.

On the mound, Valaika was nearly unhittable. He surrendered just one

hit and one walk, and struck out five, in three scoreless innings.

Ammerman pitched effectively in the final three innings and struck out

two in the final inning to squelch one final Sports World rally.

Buck, Austin, Ammerman, Armstrong, Devin Hands and Drake Dixon led VFW

on defense.

In other games:

AAA DIVISION

Laguna Batting Cages 10, Coldwell Banker 9

The teams fought to the finish in the opening week of the postseason

playoffs.

Brett Linkletter had two hits and scored the game’s first run, Alex

Sasaki doubled and finished with two RBI, Derek Knott had an RBI single

and Zach Riegler recorded the final out after Coldwell Banker had loaded

the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mikey Rubel singled for Coldwell Banker.

BANTAM DIVISION

Emerald Bay Yankees-Bushard’s Pharmacy

Avery Crowl and Liana Korber each had three hits, Garrett Burk, Lucas

Capobianco and Ren Kramer each had three hits, Chad Micheil singled, Ben

Kahn had a strong defensive game and Ojo Weiss doubled and keyed the

defense to lead Bushard’s Pharmacy.

Kyle Jaffe came up with three hits, Alex Kaliannan singled twice and

had a key defensive stop, Jon-David Horne, Adam Farsheed, Dylan Payne and

John-Paul Wollam each had a pair of hits, Sean Burkitt and Brooks Johnson

each had timely hits for the Yankees. Anthony Kilmek, Troy Thomas and

Sammy Thornton also had strong defensive games.