LITTLE LEAGUE:Majors fall to Rancho Niguel

A promising start to an elimination contest against Rancho Niguel never materialized into a big finish for the Laguna Beach Little League Majors All-Star team.

A tight contest early turned into a big win for Rancho Niguel, which scored an 11-4 victory on July 6 in the District 55 All-Star Tournament at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel.

Rancho Niguel got its first three runs on a one-out home run by Matt Wilson. Laguna lead-off hitter Brian Vail took a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left field in the top of the first inning, and he was followed by Alex Iannotti who sent a 1-0 pitch past the fence in right field, and after one inning, it was a 3-2 ballgame.

“We were hitting the ball and I thought, ‘We’re back in the game,’” Laguna Manager Cary Redfearn said. “They jumped on us early and we couldn’t recover from that fourth inning. They had some big hits but a few funky ones, too.”

Both teams went down in order in the second inning but Rancho Niguel posted two more runs in the third and blew the game open by scoring six runs ? highlighted by a grand slam by Wilson ? to take an 11-2 advantage.

Laguna scored two more runs in the fourth, but could get no closer.

Shane Selfridge, whom Redfearn said was one of his team’s “more consistent” hitters in the tournament, led Laguna with three hits. Austin Paxson also had multiple hits with two.

In the tournament, Selfridge, Paxson and Derek Reigel, who singled against Rancho Niguel, topped Laguna with four hits each. Austin Hilleman had three hits in three games.

Laguna, which opened the tournament on July 2 with an 8-0 shutout of Newport Beach National, finished the event with a record of 1-2.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’re disappointed that we didn’t get a few more victories,” Redfearn said. “But the postseason is like the lottery. You can dream about winning but in reality, only one team can win the tournament and move on.

“We certainly had a strong team and had a good time together. For me personally, this was a great group to work with, and I mean that sincerely.”

The Laguna Beach Little League Majors All-Star team is Travis Clawson , Nico Darras, Austin Hillemann , Alex Iannotti, Austin Paxson, Nort Penney, Santi Pierini, Taylor Preston, Derek Reigel, Shane Selfridge, Rex Strombotne, Ryan Takabayashi, Shane Takabayashi and Brian Vail.cpt.14-spallstars-2-CPhotoInfo3P1STUOE20060714j2bknlncCaption: No Caption cpt.14-spallstars-3-CPhotoInfo3P1STUOL20060714j2bkooncCredit: PHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / COASTLINE PILOT cpt.14-spallstars-1-CPhotoInfo3P1STUOA20060714j2bkn9ncCredit: PHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / COASTLINE PILOT Caption: (LA)Above left: Laguna Beach All-Stars Brian Vail throws to first base in Thursday evening’s tournament game against Rancho Niguel at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel. Above right: Austin Paxson delivers to the plate. At left: Alex Iannotti fields a ground ball at first base.