Laguna falls to Rancho Mission Viejo

The Laguna Beach Little League 9/10 All-Star team came up with solid

pitching and defense in its District 55 All-Star Tournament opener

against Rancho Mission Viejo, but couldn’t piece together a

consistent offense and fell, 5-1.

The double-elimination tournament continues this weekend at

Tijeras Creek Sports Park. Laguna will attempt to extend its All-Star

season Saturday with a win over the victor of the Rancho Santa

Margarita-Trabuco game.

Pitchers Tyler Macrae of Laguna Beach and Rancho Mission Viejo’s

Eric Peruzzi dominated the action early.

Both pitchers allowed one base hit and didn’t allow a base runner

past first base in the first two innings.

Laguna’s Alek Burk and Chris Goforth of Rancho Mission Viejo each

singled to right field in the first two innings.

The game turned in Rancho Mission Viejo’s favor in the third

inning.

Cole Patterson walked and Kyle Engelbrecht had an infield single

before leadoff hitter Nate Elorreaja’s sacrifice bunt advanced the

runners. Rancho’s next three batters -- Goforth, Peruzzi and Sean

Wakeman -- came up with successive singles which led to four runs and

a 4-0 lead.

Laguna’s Tyler Pierce singled in the bottom of the fourth but was

left stranded.

Macrae held Rancho hitless in the fourth and fifth innings, giving

Laguna an opportunity to get back into the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Loechner was hit by a pitch,

Austin Paxson singled to left field and both runners advanced a base

on a passed ball.

Austin Hilleman scored Loechner on an infield grounder to narrow

the gap to 4-1.

Peruzzi ended Laguna’s attempted rally with consecutive strikeouts

to end the inning.

Rancho got the run back in the top of the sixth, using two base

hits to produce a run for a 5-1 edge.

Laguna played an error-free game defensively and was led by Burk

at shortstop, Pierce in centerfield, Michael Hyden at first base and

Keaton Jones at second.