VFW’s streak, season comes to end

Mike Sciacca

You had to go back 15 games to see when VFW last lost on the baseball

field.

Since that day, VFW had won 14 consecutive games and, en route, won

the Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division championship.

They took the heady streak into the 2002 District 55 Tournament of

Champions and proceeded to score a first round knockout of South Irvine.

But on a warm night in Mission Viejo on Tuesday, VFW’s magical streak,

and season, came to an end when host South Mission Viejo claimed a 4-1

victory at Youth Sports Park.

VFW squandered an early scoring opportunity when Kevin Buck laced a

double to the warning track in right field, but was stranded.

South Mission Viejo did not waste its first at-bat, however, as the

Padres pieced together two walks and three hits with a VFW error to score

two runs.

Undaunted, VFW came back strongly in the second frame.

Gabe Stansbury walked with one out and was advanced to third base on

Matt Austin’s single. He would score on an infield roller off the bat of

Cooper Gwaltney.

But consecutive strikeouts ended VFW’s rally, leaving them down, 2-1.

The Padres got that run back by combining a walk, single and ground

out from the top of their batting order.

VFW mounted another challenge in the third inning but again, was held

off by the Padres.

Buck was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but was picked off at

first base. Keegan Valaika then got a hit and advanced to third on an

error.

With one out and a runner in scoring position, Devin Hands hit a

chopper to third base and was thrown out at first. On the play, Valaika

was thrown out at the plate.

VFW managed just two more base runners the remainder of the game.

VFW’s season included Majors Division regular season and postseason

championships, and a final record of 19-2.

Manager Mark Stansbury’s squad is comprised of Buck, Valaika, Austin,

Hands, Gabe Stansbury, Charles Moothart, Colby Ammerman, Drake Dixon,

Will Armstrong, Alex Shusko and a coaching staff of Bill Valaika, Alex

Shusko and Steve Dixon.

Other staff members included Chris Buck and Doug Ammerman.