Laguna shows no Mercy

Mike Sciacca

If the Laguna Beach Little League 9/10 Division All-Star team wanted

other teams competing in the 2002 District 55 Little League All-Star

Tournament of Champions to take notice of its character, that certainly

happened in a big way.

In an opening round Area B tournament game played at La Paz Park in

Laguna Niguel, the maroon and white routed Trabuco Canyon National, 12-2,

in game game halted by the Mercy Rule after five innings of play.

“It was an awesome game for us and everybody got to see playing time,”

said manager Steve Contursi. “It’s great to start the tournament this

way. It’s better than we could have hoped for.”

League officials say that it was the first time -- in recent memory,

anyhow -- that a Laguna Beach 9/10 All-Star team had mercied an opponent.

Brennan Mulvaney went to the mound for Laguna Beach and provided his

team with a pitching effort worthy of victory.

Mulvaney, one of three, 10-year-olds who played in the Majors Division

during the regular season, allowed Trabuco Canyon National just three

hits, two of which were bunt singles.

In addition he struck out seven of the 21 batters he faced.

Mulvaney also figured in a key play early when he struck out a Trabuco

Canyon batter and catcher Stevie Contursi threw out a baserunner

attempting to steal third base.

“His pitching was magnificent,” Steve Contursi said.

Laguna Beach gained control of the game in its first at-bat, sending

10 players to the plate.

Five players -- Adam Selevan, Garrett Hartwell, Mulvaney, Eli Vizolay

and Michael Opera -- each walked, including Selevan on two occasions.

Coupled with a solid double by Travis Woloson and a bases loaded single

by Will Bonsey, Laguna Beach scored five runs in the frame.

Trabuco Canyon attempted to get back into the game in the top of the

third, getting two of their three hits on a bunt single and an RBI double

to narrow the gap to 5-1. But Hartwell, playing center field, snagged two

deep fly balls to end the rally.

Trabuco Canyon had scored an apparent run on one of the outs, but

Steve Contursi observed the Trabuco Canyon baserunner leave third base

early, appealed the play, and the baserunner was called out.

“That was a key sequence for us, and without a doubt our defensive

player of the game was Garrett Hartwell,” Contursi said.

Contrusi also praised the play of shortstop Michael Rubel, who made a

terrific catch on the run in the outfield grass.

Laguna Beach got two more runs back in the bottom of the third on a

hard double by Ian Greene -- he doubled twice in the game, a walk by Alec

Burk and singles by Rubel and Michael Maxsenti.

Trabuco Hills again attempted a rally in the fifth inning, getting a

walk and bunt single, but it was short-lived as Mulvaney, backed by his

defense, shut them down the remainder of the inning.

The victory sends Laguna Beach into a second round winner’s bracket

showdown with Rancho Mission Viejo. The game is set for Saturday at 3

p.m. at La Paz Park in Laguna Niguel.