Laguna Junior All-Stars roll

Laguna Beach Little League’s Junior League All-Star team opened

District 55 All-Star Tournament with a bang by winning its first two

postseason games at Windrow Park in Irvine.

Laguna Beach began tournament play with a 13-1 rout of Tijeras

Creek Saturday.

They followed that triumph with a 3-1 win Monday night over

Trabuco.

The victories thrusts Laguna into winners bracket play Saturday

against the winner of last Wednesday night’s game between Rancho

Mission Viejo and Rancho Niguel.

Saturday’s game time is 10 a.m. at Windrow Park.

Laguna Beach 13, Tijeras Creek 1

Trevor Pierce pitched a complete-game victory and Laguna Beach

successfully launched district play with a 12-run victory.

In addition, Pierce hit in the leadoff spot and came up with two

singles and scored three runs.

Laguna’s offensive attack was led by Nathan Pickett who went 4 for

4 but each batter in the lineup contributed to the victory.

Pickett and Max Hilburn pieced together consecutive doubles in the

second inning to break a 1-1 tie and put Laguna ahead for good, 5-1.

Ryan Pigden, John Wes Robinson and Jordan O’Brien each contributed

base hits.

Chris Hyden scored three runs and Pickett and Hilburn each scored

twice.

Laguna Beach 3, Trabuco 1

Nathan Pickett took to the mound and pitched a spectacular game as

he scattered two hits and struck out 13 to power Laguna to its second

tournament win.

The teams were scoreless heading into the bottom of the third

inning. That’s where Cameron Pearson walked, stole second base and

went to third on a passed ball. He ended up scoring on another passed

ball for a 1-0 lead.

Two outs later, Chris Hyden walked and later scored. Max Hilburn

reached base on a throwing error and eventually scored on a balk to

make it a 3-0 game.

Pickett, in control throughout the contest, yielded his only run

in the top of the sixth.

The Laguna Junior League All-Star team is comprised of Nathan

Pickett, Chris Hyden, Devin Hands, Trevor Pierce, Andy Lyon, Max

Hilburn, Jordan O’Brien, Ryan McCarter, Ryan Pigden, Cameron Pearson,

John Wes Robinson, Michael Porter and Max Parmentier.