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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.