Youth Scene: UPS rolling in tourney
Through its first two games in Laguna Beach Little League postseason playoff action, UPS had its offense rolling in the AAA Division tournament.
UPS opened the postseason Saturday and never looked back in overwhelming Lumberyard, 11-0. In a must-win situation, UPS Coach Jon Hendrickson gave the start to his pitching ace, JD Dix. Dix pitched masterfully allowing only one hit in three innings of shutout ball. Luke Anderton and Sam Schineller saw relief action and completed the shutout win.
Offensively, UPS got contributions from Aidan McDennon, Jax Lalouette, Davis Dix and Kai Gillies.
Lumberyard was led by Nick Bonn, Ben Kelly and Chase Hall.
In its second tournament game played Tuesday, UPS went up against the division’s top-seeded team, Gapp Construction, and pulled away to a 12-2 victory.
McDennon got the start for UPS and squared off against Gapp’s Landon Losey. Both pitchers battled and the score was tied, 2-2 after three innings. However, it was UPS which finally broke through, sending nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the top of the fourth.
Jake Cutter got the fourth-inning rally started with a double up the gap followed by a walk to Luke Hendrickson. Luke Anderton then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and UPS was on its way to a 12-2 win.
Sam Schineller pitched brilliantly down the stretch striking out six in three innings of work. JD Dix closed out the win.
For Gapp Construction, Ashton Rea reached base in each of his three trips to the plate, Luke Lavin went two for two and Logan Parker finished the game on the mound.
UPS advances to the division semifinals round and will go up against No. 2-seeded McKenna BMW at 4:15 p.m. Friday.
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AA Division
La Sirena Grill 11, American Legion 7
In its first postseason playoff game, La Sirena Grill outlasted American Legion through outstanding pitching, fielding and discipline at the plate.
American Legion jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to singles by Luca Laurence and Taylor Towe and a three-run triple down the first base line by Jackson Byerly. Led by the strong pitching of Towe (two innings, three runs, six hits, six strikeouts), American Legion maintained a 3-2 lead after two innings.
La Sirena Grill fought back through stellar pitching by Cade Anderton. After Byerly’s three run triple, Anderton struck out six of seven and retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced.
La Sirena’s offense was propelled by the hitting of Jackson Baldwin, Zade Harrison, Oliver Rounaghi and Jackson Lawsky. Due to its strong defensive showing in the middle innings, La Sirena went into the final inning with an 11-3 lead. American Legion continued to fight, scoring four runs on the hitting of Towe, Devon Connelly, Ben Rowan and Byerly.
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Saturday’s Schedule
9:30 a.m.: Big Fish and Kya vs. Bialetti.
10 a.m.: Laguna Beach Five-O vs. Casey’s Cupcakes; Auction.com vs. Laguna Hills Nationals; McKenna Porsche vs. Laguna Hills Black Hawks.
11:30 a.m.: Drs. DiGiovanni & Cook vs. John Di Go.
Noon: Ventura Foods vs. Rip Curl.
1:30: Tuvalu vs. Hansen’s.