First week ends in a tie

Liverpool United, a boys’ Under-11 Plus team out of AYSO Region 56, completed its first week of the season with three matches that ended in tie scores.

In the season opener, a 1-1 tie against Lake Forest, Grant Mooney scored off a corner kick from Gavin Kirkreit to provide Liverpool United with its only goal.

George Vournas and Connor Venanzi, along with goalkeepers Truman Bazer and Jacob Capps, led the team defensively.

In its next match, Liverpool United twice had to rally from two-goal deficits to earn a 3-3 tie against Rancho Santa Margarita. The locals were down, 2-0, in the second quarter when Jackson Snow headed in the rebound off a shot by Griffin Clement that hit the crossbar. Rancho Santa Margarita had extended its lead back to a two-goal cushion in the third quarter (3-1), when Liverpool United’s Garrett Mullins was brought down on a breakaway run and his team was awarded a free kick. Cristian Contreras scored on the free kick, bringing Liverpool United to within 3-2.

In the fourth quarter, Drew Truxaw was awarded a penalty kick after being tackled on his hard drive into the box. On the ensuing penalty kick, Grant Mooney had his shot deflected, but he hustled to get the loose ball and scored to tie the match.

The third game of the week saw Liverpool United go up against a Mission Viejo team that hadn’t given up a goal. Clement, however, scored off a pass from Truxaw in the second quarter, and that goal gave Liverpool United a 1-0 halftime lead. Mission Viejo scored the tying goal early in the third quarter, but the play of defenders Jack Slavik, Christian Castelblanco, Connor Saeman and keeper Teddy Stuka kept the score knotted at 1.

In youth softball:

The HB Bombers, an 8-and-under team out of South Huntington Beach Girls Fastpitch Softball, took second place at the Cypress Labor Day Tournament.

The Bombers went 4-1 during the tournament, with one of those wins coming against another team from South Huntington Beach during pool play.

Huntington’s lone loss was to West Garden Grove.

Dani Dennison pitched all 17 innings during the tournament and recorded a pair of no-hitters. Her sister, Cassidy, caught all five games.

Offensively, the Dennisons, Giovanna Liggett, Timre Tonti and Jessica Karns produced key hits. Turning in solid defensive play were Janie Hammond and Jessica Karns in the infield and Amanda Hadley, Shelby Chickman, Brittany Trebil, Rachel Rosen, Tina Barnes, Jaden Gendry and Maddie Primrose in the outfield.

The Bombers are coached by Dareld Karns, Rich Dennison, Jill Hammond and Randy Byrnes.