Newport All-Stars humbled

CORONA DEL MAR — The first inning was all Newport Beach, but the rest of the game was all Laguna Hills.

The 11-12-year-old Newport Beach Little League All-Stars lost to Laguna Hills, 11-2, Wednesday in the first round of the District 55 All-Star Tournament because, according to Newport Beach’s Manager Duane Hastings, “We ran into a buzz saw.”

“[Laguna Hills] hit the ball hard, all over the park, all night long. I give them great credit,” Hastings said. “It wasn’t our poor play. Our pitchers didn’t walk anybody. Curveball, fastball, change-up — they hit them all.”

Newport Beach, who played on familiar grounds at Lincoln Elementary, its home field, started with a perfect one-two-three inning by starting pitcher Ryan Maister.

The bats also contributed with three straight hits — one being a two-RBI double from Ben Humphreys, scoring Chad Redfearn and Logan Miller.

But Laguna Hills countered with a six-run second inning and reversed the momentum for good. Newport Beach did not score another run.

“This was Newport’s home field,” Laguna Hills Manager Mark Zuvich said. “They came out very strong and they are a very good team. We said to the kids, ‘It’s time to battle back. Have a big inning now. Make a statement.’ ”

The offense made a statement, but Laguna Hills starting southpaw pitcher Cameron Bondy made a bigger one.

Bondy, who threw the maximum-allotted 75 pitches through six innings and finished with 12 strikeouts, took over the game by retiring 11 consecutive batters after starting the game by giving up three straight hits.

“The team as a whole played very well,” Zuvich said. “The kids were hitting the ball, executing hit and runs, sacrifice bunts, tagging on fly balls.”

Hastings added that even though Laguna Hills, which won the 11-year-old division last year, was a tough draw. He told his players to keep their chins up.

“I just told them ‘Look, we have a lot of baseball to play next week,” Hastings said after the game. “We’re still one of the better teams in this district.’ We played the top team right out of the chute and they were hitting it on all cylinders. We’ll have better nights.”

The Newport Beach All-Stars will try do that Monday when they take on Laguna Beach at 5 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary in an elimination game.

Newport Beach

Little League All-Stars

12-year-olds

Parker Reposa, Ben Humphreys, Chad Redfearn, Ryan Maister, Cameron Hook, Jake Hastings, Logan Miller, Mason McLaughlin, Max Kline, Will Hinkelman, Nick Ontiveros, Kevin Fults, Justin Hess

Manager: Duane Hastings

Coaches: Shawn Miller, Dan Hess