Laguna 9/10 All-Stars shine

Mike Sciacca

They might not have won the District 55 banner, but the 2002

Laguna Beach Little League 9/10 All-Star team has plenty reason to be

proud.

They won two games in the just completed All-Star Tournament of

Champions, reached the quarterfinal round in winner’s bracket play in

a field that included 16 teams, and were one of the final six teams

left in the running for the district crown.

And now, after being eliminated last weekend from title

contention, these 9/10 All-Stars can reflect on a successful

post-season run.

“We had a great time. The kids did an excellent job,” said Laguna

Beach Manager Steve Contursi.

Laguna Beach was knocked from the double elimination tournament by

Laguna Hills, 14-0, in a Mercy Rule game called after four innings.

Laguna Hills went on to finish runner-up to Viejo in the 9/10

final.

Expectations of this Laguna Beach team were sky high after the

team opened the tournament with consecutive victories over Trabuco

Canyon and Rancho Mission Viejo.

The Mercy Rule win over Trabuco Canyon was almost unheard of for a

Laguna Beach team in postseason play.

“There have been many a past Laguna Beach team that has sat on the

short end of a Mercy Rule game,” Contursi said after his team

walloped Trabuco Canyon, 12-2. “That win really got the kids

excited.”

Next came a 5-2 win over Rancho Mission Viejo, but the one game

that Contursi wishes the team got back was its third game in winner’s

bracket play, a 10-4 loss to Rancho Niguel.

Laguna Beach seemed in command, holding a 4-0 lead, before Rancho

Niguel responded with five runs in each of its final two at-bats.

“The kids really were playing well but that third game, well, we

could of and should have won that one,” he said. “That one got away,

but that’s how things go. We didn’t play as poorly in the loss to

Laguna Hills.”

In an elimination game at La Paz Park in Laguna Niguel, Laguna

Hills opened up an early 10-0 lead and Laguna Beach never recovered.

Laguna Beach’s lone offensive highlight was a double by Garrett

Hartwell.

Despite having its hopes dashed of winning the league’s first

District 55 title, Contursi was plenty proud of his All-Stars, who

ventured where few -- if any -- Laguna Beach All-Star teams have gone

before.

“We had a great run and it’s probably the best run by any Laguna

Beach All-Star team in district play, period,” he said. “The kids

worked very hard for their success. I practiced them everyday, and

everybody was there for practice. We had very good parent support and

fathers even helped out at practice. Everybody walked away from this

tournament feeling good. It was a good experience for the whole

community.”