Bonsey two-hits Hobie

Will Bonsey tossed a two-hitter and Rotary stayed alive in Laguna

Beach Little League Majors Division post season play by defeating

Hobie, 4-1, at Riddle Field.

Bonsey didn’t give up a hit after the second inning and recorded

nine strikeouts in six innings of work.

He also figured prominently in Rotary’s scoring attack.

In Rotary’s first at-bat, Michael Maxsenti started a two-out rally

by singling to left field. Bonsey followed with an infield grounder

and when the throw to first base was off target, Maxsenti came around

to score the game’s first run.

Hobie countered in the top of the second when Eli Viszolay and

Austin Hilleman each singled, and Viszolay scored on Cole Kennedy’s

ground out to tie the score at 1-1.

In the bottom-half of the third, Rotary took the lead for good.

Chris Lavery singled to left field and circled the bags when a

throw from left field deflected off the second baseman’s glove and

went into right field.

Maxsenti followed with his second sit of the game, moved to second

and third bases on wild pitches and scored when a throw deflected off

the third baseman’s glove for a 3-1 lead.

Hobie did mount a fourth inning rally when Rex Strombotne and

Derek Knott each drew a walk. The two were stationed at second and

third base when Kennedy hit a hard ground ball seeking to enter left

field. Rotary shortstop Mikey Rubel came up with a big play, however,

as he went to the hole to retrieve the grounder, then threw to first

base to get Kennedy by a foot for the final out which preserved the

3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bonsey singled and later scored an

insurance run on an errant pick-off attempt.

Bonsey was backed in the field by the defensive efforts of Rubel,

Maxsenti, Michael Niebuhr and Sammy Witte.

Viszolay limited Rotary to five hits and struck out three. He was

backed by defensive support from Keaton Jones, Alek Loechner and

Tyler Pierce.

The win advanced Rotary, the regular season champion, to an

elimination game against VFW.