Run ends for Crescent Bay Advisors
Crescent Bay Advisors had its spirited run in the Little League District 55 Tournament of Champions come to an end June 7.
CBA, playing before a supportive crowd on its own Riddle Field in Laguna Beach, was eliminated from district title contention after falling, 10-2, to the Laguna Hills Yankees in the semifinals of the Minor Division.
The Aliso Viejo Cardinals won division title Saturday by beating Laguna Hills, 7-2.
CBA took a 1-0 lead on Laguna Hills in the top of the first inning after Nate Magers singled and later stole home. The Yankees posted two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but CBA responded and tied the score in the top of the second when Cooper Noriega laid down a run-scoring bunt. The Yankees then went on to score the game’s final eight runs.
CBA Manager Coby Naess said that starting pitcher Nicholas Lucas threw three strong innings and didn’t walk a batter. Closer Nolan Smith retired the final five batters he faced.
“We were not ready for our season to be over,” Naess said. “Our boys and us coaches could have kept playing through the summer, that’s how much fun we all had as a team.”
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8/9 All-Stars
The Laguna Beach Little League 8/9 All-Star team split its first two games, then was eliminated Wednesday from the double-elimination District 55 All-Star Tournament at Cabot Field in Laguna Niguel.
Laguna started tourney play Saturday and was defeated, 10-0, by Aliso Viejo. Laguna was held to just one hit and a walk in the loss. Alex Neufeld had the lone hit, a single up the middle. Neufeld also stole two bases and Jack Payne played well at catcher, Laguna Manager Coby Naess said.
Laguna bounced back in its next game Monday to score a 12-2 win over Laguna Hills. Scotty Plowden started at pitcher and limited Laguna Hills to two runs in three innings. Naess said reliever George Williams “slammed the door shut,” to close out the win.
Offensively, Plowden had a double and triple, Jack Payne had a two-run hit, Will Compton hit a bases-loaded, two-run single that gave Laguna Beach a 4-1 lead in the first inning, and Nolan Naess went one for one and reached base in all three of his at-bats.
On Wednesday, Laguna put up a big rally against Lake Forest that eventually fell short, resulting in a 7-5 loss. Laguna climbed back from a 7-1 deficit to make it a close game. Gavin Trevino and Jamie MacKay both had big RBI hits, Plowden and Caden Capobianco made key plays defensively, Payne was solid behind the plate and Coby Naess said both Paxton Burzell and Williams “pitched great.”
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All-Star Teams
Laguna Beach will announce its Little All-Star teams for the 9/10, 11s, 12s and Junior divisions at 5 p.m. Friday at Riddle Field. The District 55 All-Star Tournament, a double-elimination event, starts June 30.