Rotary again stages late-game theatrics

In the first round of the Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division

postseason tournament, Rotary and American Legion each displayed a

“never-say-die” attitude.

Rotary had the final say, though, as it scored two runs in the

bottom of the sixth inning, them made them stand, to complete a 10-9

victory.

The comeback was made more dramatic when the lights went out at

Riddle Field just before Rotary was to take its final at-bat.

Twenty-minutes later, the lights flickered back on, and that’s

when Rotary ignited its rally.

Trailing 9-8 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Rotary tied the

score when Michael Hyden doubled home Alek Burk, and won the game

when Hyden raced home after a pitch went into the dirt and bounced

away form the American Legion catcher.

American Legion showed its moxie on several occasions throughout

the game, by coming back from deficits of 3-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 8-5, to

go on top, 9-8, after five innings.

They used a four-run fifth inning to take that 9-8 lead.

Jonathan Roberts had an RBI single to score the first run and

Austin Hilleman followed with a bases loaded double to deep

centerfield to score two more runs and tie the game.

Keaton Jones, who also smashed a three-run home run and double

earlier in the game, sent an infield single into the hole between

shortstop and third base, which scored Robbie McInerny to give

American Legion its first and only lead.

McInerny finished the game with three walks.

Rotary clean-up hitter Alec Loechner had a pair of doubles and

singled, Jake Glazer had three hits and Shane Takabayashi had two

hits.

Rotary will resume the postseason playoffs on Wed., June 1, when

it takes on the winner of today’s Sportsworld-Team Hobie matchup.

In other games:

Rotary 15, Team Hobie 11

Rotary scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to cap an

improbably comeback to get the win in regular season action.

In the top of the sixth, Alec Loechner led off with a single and

Ryan Takabayashi doubled to score Loechner to cut Hobie’s lead to

11-10.

After Bo O’Bryan was hit by a pitch, Tyler Kesler recorded his

third hit of the game to tie the score at 11-11.

Consecutive walks to Evan Rubel, Jake Glazer and Shane Takabayashi

forced home O’Bryan and Kesler for a 13-11 Rotary lead.

Michael Hyden, who also had three hits, brought in another run

with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, and Loechner’s fourth hit

of the game plated both Glazer and Shane Takabayashi to make it

15-11.

Hobie led, 9-1, after three innings, but Rotary scored seven runs

in the fourth inning to pull to within 9-8.

Hobie scored twice more in the fourth inning to go up, 11-8.

Hobie’s big inning was the first, when it batted around and scored

seven runs behind hits from Jack Pillsbury, Spencer Friedenrich and

Nick Bishop, three Rotary errors and walks to Remy Zona, Cody Alter

and Michael Kimball.

Friedenrich started on the mound for Hobie and his solid

performance limited Rotary to just four hits in the first three

innings.

Hyden hit a solo home run over the fence in left-center field in

the top of the first inning to give Rotary a short-lived, 1-0 lead.

Ryan Takabayashi doubled three times and finished with four RBIs

and Brogan O’Bryan tripled and singled for Rotary.

Friedenrich doubled among three hits for Hobie.