Tourney tough, fun

Mike Sciacca

The outcome of its games might not have swung in their favor, but

that didn’t prevent the Laguna Beach Little League 11-year-old

All-Star team from enjoying its experience in the District 55

All-Star Tournament.

Laguna lost its first two tournament outings at Wagon Wheel Sports

Park in Trabuco Canyon, falling to San Clemente, 10-1, and Laguna Niguel, 14-1, in the double-elimination event.

“I have to compliment the Laguna Niguel squad,” Laguna Beach

Manager Cary Hyden said. “Their entire lineup really hit well.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make the defensive plays that we are capable

of making.

“If we made the routine plays that we would generally make, we

would have been down only 2-0 after the first inning.”

Instead, Laguna Niguel capitalized on four first-inning errors by

Laguna Beach and paired that with timely hitting to score nine runs

in its first frame.

Laguna Niguel had opened the tournament with an 18-4 rout of South

Mission Viejo but was coming off an 8-1 loss to Trabuco Canyon.

Laguna Beach trailed 12-0 after two innings.

Laguna Beach scored its only run in the third.

“We have a great group of kids who worked very hard, but without a

dominating pitcher, we have to play very well defensively for us to

compete with the top All-Star teams,” Hyden said.

“Despite not having the game results that we would have liked,

this was an outstanding all-star experience for everyone involved.

The kids, parents and coaches all had fun and, in the final analysis,

that is what Little League should be about.”

Laguna’s 2004 11-year-old All-Stars are Matt Neev, Jake Glazer,

Tyler Pierce, Keaton Jones, Sawyer Pierce, Jack Clark, Stevie

Contursi, Taylor Preston, Michael Hyden, DuRuss “Bo” O’Bryan, Travis

Sampson, Alex Bekken, Spencer Freidenrich, Tyler MacRae, Alek Burk,

Coach Chris Clark and Manager Cary Hyden.