Laguna squads having trouble competing

The season has come to an end for three of four Laguna Beach Little League All-Star teams.

All three squads began play Saturday in the Little League District 55 All-Star Tournament and each was eliminated this week from the double-elimination event.

A fourth Laguna Beach All-Star team, the Junior All-Stars, play an elimination game at 7 p.m. today against Northwood at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel. The winner moves on to play in another elimination game Wednesday.

Laguna dropped its Junior division opener to Rancho Niguel, 19-0, on Sunday.

The Laguna Beach Little League All-Star team dropped its opener, 11-1, to Aliso Viejo on Saturday and was eliminated Monday by Northwood, 6-3, at Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel.

The Laguna Beach 10/11 All-Stars suffered a pair of one-run losses in the tournament. First, they were edged, 5-4, by Newport American on Saturday at Hick's Canyon Park. On Tuesday, they were eliminated following a 3-2 loss to Laguna Hills.

District 55 includes teams from Laguna Beach, Central Irvine, Southern Irvine, Northwood, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Ranch Niguel, Newport Beach American, Newport Beach National, Lake Forrest, Laguna Hills and Saddleback.

The tournament concludes July 12.

9/10 All-Stars

Laguna Beach 13, Central Irvine 0: Laguna Beach played its first tournament game Saturday and rolled past Central Irvine in a four-inning, mercy-rule victory at Woodfield Park in Aliso Viejo.

Laguna scored right away, getting a double off the center-field fence from Jack Wills, an RBI single by Judge Washer and an RBI triple by Sawyer Chesley in the bottom of the first to go up, 2-0. In Laguna's next at-bat, Dylan Smith and Zach Washer singled, Carson Cushing sacrificed the runners to second and third. With two out, Jack Loechner singled, Wills doubled, Judge Washer singled and took second base on a throw to home, then stole third and home. By the end of the inning, Laguna was in front, 7-0.

Laguna scored six more runs in the third. Connor Brashier walked and Smith, Cushing, James Langton, Loechner, Wills and Judge Washer all singled, and Will Ross drew a walk.