Locals still alive in tourney
The Laguna Beach Little League Major Division All-Star team is moving on in the District 55 All-Star Tournament.
Laguna has played three games since Saturday, has won two straight and posted a 2-1 record. It’s latest game Tuesday resulted in a 10-1 victory over Rancho Niguel at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo that kept the team alive in the double-elimination tournament.
Laguna Beach will attempt to again fend off elimination when it takes on Laguna Niguel at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Woodfield Park (Field 4). The winner advances to face the victor of another elimination game Friday between Laguna Hills and Northwood at 4 p.m. Saturday at Field 4.
Laguna Niguel is 2-1 and started the tournament June 30 with a 10-0 win over Laguna Beach.
The tournament continues Sunday with another elimination game at 2 p.m. The division’s championship series starts at 7 p.m. Monday. If necessary, a final game will be played at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Through Thursday, Aliso Viejo and Newport Beach were the lone undefeated teams in the tournament.
Laguna Beach earned its second tournament win Tuesday by scoring the game’s final nine runs in a 10-1 win that eliminated Rancho Niguel. A home run in the bottom of the first inning by John Langton gave Laguna a 1-0 lead. Rancho Niguel loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but scored just one run to tie the score. Solid play in the field by Laguna’s James Langton and Justin Holm prevented Rancho Niguel from any further scoring.
Second baseman Dylan Smith also made two big defensive plays and Laguna starter Remy Mackel struck out a batter in the top of the third. With two-out in the bottom of the inning, Laguna broke the tie when Blake Burzell singled and Jack Loechner homered for a 3-1 lead. Mackel struck out two more batters and Smith made another key play at second base in the top of the fourth, and Laguna came back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Mackel walked and stole second and third base and scored on a single by James Langton. Jack Wills singled to drive in Langton to bring the score to 5-1.
Loechner relieved Mackel in the fifth where Laguna blew the game open. Burzell and Loechner produced back-to-back singles before Mackel doubled home Burzell. Smith laid down what Manager Eric Wills called a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Loechner. With two out, Holm and James Langton singled and Wills doubled home both runners to make the score, 10-1.
Zack Washer made a catch on the run to get the first out for Laguna in the top of the sixth, but Rancho Niguel went on register a few hits and drew a walk to load the bases. The game ended when Smith caught a pop fly at second base.
Laguna opened the tournament Saturday against Laguna Niguel, which scored five runs in the second inning and tacked on four more in the third. Laguna Beach was limited to three hits and two walks.
In an elimination game Sunday, Laguna responded from its loss to Laguna Niguel to post its own 10-0 victory over Lake Forest/Saddleback. Following a scoreless opening inning, Laguna scored seven runs in the second inning to take command. The game was called after four because of the 10-run mercy rule.
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9/10 All-Stars
Laguna Beach was eliminated from the tournament after two games. Laguna dropped its opener Sunday, 15-8, to Rancho Niguel. In an elimination game Tuesday, Laguna fell, 6-1, to Newport Beach National. Both games were at Woodfield Park.
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10/11 All-Stars
The 10/11 Laguna Beach All-Stars were eliminated after two games. Laguna dropped its opener, 22-0, to Laguna Niguel on Saturday. On Sunday, Laguna lost a 9-3 game to Irvine. The tournament was at Hicks Canyon Park in Irvine.
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Junior All-Stars
The Laguna Beach Junior All-Stars had their tourney run end in two games at Woodfield Park. Laguna lost, 22-0, to Laguna Niguel on Monday and was eliminated Tuesday following a 19-2 loss to Laguna Hills.