Two teams compete in TOC

Rotary, and Hobie, representatives of Laguna Beach Little League’s Intermediate Division, played their opening games Wednesday in the Little League District 55 Tournament of Champions.

Rotary fell in its first tourney game, 6-2, to the Laguna Niguel Oregon Ducks at Hicks Field in Irvine (Northwood Little League host).

Things looked promising early for Rotary which jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, their runs coming on a leadoff single by Bryce Ford and a two-run home run over the right-field fence by Chase Hall. The lead held heading into the fourth inning.

Oregon was able to capitalize on a few Rotary miscues to go up, 4-2. Some nice plays in the field by Aaron Childs and Griff Naess kept Oregon in check until the Ducks scored another two runs late to build their lead to 6-2.

Rotary put together a few late rallies including one in the sixth. With two out, Sam Marzulli had a hard-hit single to left field, his second hit of the game, and Lucas McKibben had a great at-bat and walked but Rotary was unable to get a run across.

In the final inning, Hall and Jack Payne opened the bottom of the seventh with singles, followed one out later by a single up the middle by Riley Gapp which loaded the bases. Again, Rotary couldn’t get the key hit to add more runs.

Rotary was led on the mound by Payne, Hall and Naess.

Rotary finished its 2016 as regular season and tournament champions in LBLL’s Intermediate Division, and posted a 16-5 overall record.

— Reader submission

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In the other Tournament of Champions opening game at Hicks Field Wednesday involving a Laguna Beach Little League team, Hobie, the second-place team from the Intermediate Division, was defeated by the Rancho Niguel Dodgers, 12-4.