Oysters survive American Legion

In a game that featured several lead changes and went down to the final out, the Oysters overcame American Legion, 8-5, in Laguna Beach Little League action.

American Legion struck first in the contest, using a double by lead-off batter Travis Clawson and a single by Tyler Kesler to take a 1-0 lead.

The Oysters retaliated immediately, as Austin Hilleman delivered a lead-off home run in the bottom-half of the inning to knot the score. They went into the lead, 2-1, later in the inning when Garrett Burk singled and scored on an RBI double into right field by Chris Barwick.

The double was the first of three hits by Barwick.

That lead lasted an inning. American Legion erased the lead in the third frame when Nico Darras hit a solo home run to tie the score at 2-2. After Robbie McInerny drew a walk; Grifan Fair knocked in McInerny on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 game.

The Oysters threatened to score in the bottom of the third behind hits by Alex Iannotti and Taylor Preston, but both runners were left stranded on the base paths.

American Legion gained a two-run cushion in the top of the fourth when a home run to left field by Cole Kesler increased the lead to 4-2. But as it had in the first inning, the Oysters responded in the bottom-half of the fourth, and it was enough to tie the score ? again.

Garrett Burk singled and scored on Barwick’s second hit of the night, and a two-run home run to right field brought the score to 4-4.

In the top of the fifth, American Legion took its final lead. Clawson came up with his second hit and scored on an RBI single by Barras to make it 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Barwick came through again for the Oysters as they tied the score one final time.

Preston drew another walk and scored on another hit by Barwick. Preston sent American Legion down in order in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for a big finish by the Oysters.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, Rex Kelly sent a drive into centerfield to give the Oysters a baserunner. Hilleman followed Kelly with his second hit of the day. That brought Iannotti to the plate, and he promptly took the first pitch offered him high over the fence in left-centerfield for a three-run home run, which gave the Oysters an 8-5 victory.