Oysters come from behind

The Oysters moved into a tie for first-place in the Majors Division at Laguna Beach Little League Tuesday by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull out a 5-4 victory over VFW at Riddle Field.

The Oysters moved into a share of the top spot with VFW.

VFW struck first, tallying two runs in the first inning. Austin Paxson doubled home Nort Penney who had walked, and a single into right field by Santi Pierini scored Paxson.

The Oysters drew even in the top of the third. Christian Rieckhoff drew a walk before Austin Hillemann hit a two-run home run.

That tie didn’t last long, as VFW scored twice more in the bottom-half of the inning. Kaito Lee laid down a perfect bunt and Penney’s hard-hit grounder through second drove in two runs. Penney was thrown out at second base by Oysters right-fielder, Joe Redfearn, to end the inning.

The Oysters got a run back in the fourth when Larry Stewart doubled before Garrett Burk hit an RBI single. They went ahead to stay in the sixth by scoring the game’s final two runs.

A single by Stewart brought home Alex Iannotti, and Burk knocked in Taylor Preston with his second RBI of the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Oysters defense protected the lead as Redfearn caught a deep fly in right field and Stewart, at shortstop, made a leaping catch of a line drive by Pierini for the second out. Hillemann then struck out the next batter to clinch the win.

Hillemann and Preston each recorded six strikeouts.

Paxson pitched all six innings for VFW, giving up only six hits. He finished with nine strikeouts.

With this win Oysters moved into a virtual tiw with VFW for first place and will square off again tonight!