All-Stars fall to San Clemente

Mike Sciacca

The Laguna Beach Little League’s 11-year-old All-Star team ventured

into the District 55 All-Star Tournament at Wagon Wheel Park in El

Toro Saturday with high hopes.

Those hopes were dashed early by San Clemente, which posted a 10-0

victory in a first-round game.

San Clemente played an error-free game on defense and its offense

took advantage of several Laguna Beach defensive mistakes to advance

to the Winner’s Bracket.

Mike Townsend broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the

second inning with a towering, grand slam home run, which ignited San

Clemente’s offense.

San Clemente pitcher Alex Gonzales mixed up his pitches and kept

Laguna Beach batters off balance throughout the game.

Gonzales recorded only three strikeouts but was backed by an

air-tight defense.

Stevie Contursi and Alex Bekken had the only two hits by Laguna

Beach.

Travis Sampson made a pair of running catches in right field to

highlight Laguna Beach’s defensive play.

“I am disappointed that we didn’t play as well as we are capable,”

Laguna Manager Cary Hyden said. “We have a great group of kids but

without a dominating pitcher, we have to play very well defensively

and offensively, for us to compete with the top all-star teams.”

San Clemente appears to have fielded one of the top 11-year-old

All-Star teams, as the league followed the win over Laguna Beach with

an 11-0 pounding of South Irvine.

Despite the loss, Laguna still has a shot at its first district

title.

Laguna will take on neighboring Laguna Niguel Saturday in an

elimination game in the “Second Chance” half of the tournament

bracket.

A victory keeps Laguna alive in the double-elimination tournament

and would send the squad into a 5 p.m. game Monday against the winner

of Lake Forest-Gold and North Mission Viejo.

First pitch Saturday is at 8:30 a.m. at Wagon Wheel Park.

“I am confident that we will play much better on Saturday against

Laguna Niguel,” Hyden said. “These kids have been working very hard

and are very resilient.

“I think they will bounce back and play an outstanding game

against Laguna Niguel.”

Laguna Niguel opened the tournament Sunday with a win over South

Mission Viejo, but lost Tuesday to Trabuco Canyon in the

second-round.

The Laguna Beach 11-year-old All-Star team is composed of Alex

Bekken, Alek Burk, Jack Clark, Stevie Contursi, Spencer Freidenrich,

Jake Glazer, Michael Hyden, Keaton Jones, Tyler MacRae, Matthew Neev,

DuRoss “Bo” O’Brien, Sawyer Pierce, Tyler Pierce, Taylor Preston and

Travis Sampson.

The 11-year-old All-Stars scoreboard:

Saturday’s results

Viejo 12, Northwood 2

Rancho Santa Margarita 11, Newport Beach-National 2

Trabuco Canyon 7, Lake Forest-Gold 6

San Clemente 10, Laguna Beach 0

Newport Beach-American 13, Rancho Niguel 9

Laguna Hills 12, San Juan Capistrano 8

Sunday’s results

Aliso Niguel 12, Rancho Santa Margarita 0

Tijeras Creek 22, Ladera Rancho 0

San Clemente 11, South Irvine-National 0

North Mission Viejo 14, South Irvine-American 1

Monday’s results

Rancho Mission Viejo 6, Newport Beach-American 5

Laguna Hills 14, Lake Forest-Blue 2

Tuesday’s results

Saddleback 6, North Mission Viejo 5

Tijeras Creek 8, Laguna Niguel 1

Saturday’s schedule

At Wagon Wheel Sports Park

8:30 a.m.

Laguna Beach vs. Laguna Niguel

(elimination game)