Laguna handles hosts

Rick Devereux

Despite the 11-1 loss Wednesday at Bonita Canyon Sports Park to

Laguna Nigel Little League, the host Newport Beach National Little

League 11-year-old All-Star team had a positive outlook on the

District 55 All-Star game.

“Forget about the scoreboard,” Manager George Garrett told his

team after the game. “Everyone played well.”

The contest was closer than the final score implies because Laguna

Nigel tallied eight runs in the final two innings, including a

six-run sixth inning that saw 12 batters step up to the plate.

“We kind of fell apart there at the end,” Garrett said. “We were

in the hunt the whole game, though.”

Newport Beach had runners on second and third with no outs in the

second inning, but Laguna Nigel’s Will Blair struck out the next

three batters to get out of the jam. Blair struck out 10 in five

innings of work, allowing only three hits.

“We haven’t seen a pitcher that fast all year,” Garrett said.

Blair sent Newport down 1-2-3 in first, third and fourth innings.

Newport Beach seemed to adjust to Blair by the fifth inning when

Ryan Banning led off the inning with a double to right field. A

perfectly executed sacrifice hit by Jack Presson advanced Banning to

third and Scott Youngman registered an RBI with his line drive to

left.

Laguna Nigel pressured from the first inning when it had the bases

loaded with one out, but pitcher Jedd Thayer induced consecutive

ground balls to get out of the jam. Thayer allowed one hit through

four innings and struck out four for Newport.

A big reason Laguna was able to apply so much pressure was the

team’s patience at the plate. Laguna drew 11 bases on balls while

Newport drew zero. Newport batters struck out 11 times compared to

five for Laguna hitters.

Laguna scored three runs in the third inning on consecutive walks.

Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and one run scored on a

sacrifice hit. The second run scored on another wild pitch. Laguna

drew its third walk of the inning and the runner advanced on a ground

out and a fielding error. He scored on a wild pitch.

The visitors scored twice in the fifth when Laguna hit a double to

the let-center gap followed by a wild pitch and a single up the

middle. A throwing error advanced the runner to third base and

another wild pitch plated the run.

Laguna put the game away in the sixth inning when the bases were

loaded with one out and Laguna drew a walk followed by a two-run

single to right field. Two batters later, Laguna hit another two-run

single to right field.

Newport threw six wild pitches in the game, half of which resulted

in runs for Laguna Nigel.

“They have a very good team,” Garrett said. “I’m very happy with

our team. They played hard.”

Banning was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Other Newport players who

collected hits were Youngman, Grant Garrett, Tyler Maloney and Billy

MacDonald.

Also contributing to Newport’s showing were Spencer Bruno, Matt

English, Devon Traglia, Andrew Clary and Alex Stecca.

Newport Beach plays Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Laguna Beach.