Hot fun in the summertime

Mike Sciacca

Don’t look now, but the Laguna Beach Little League Junior All-Star

team is in the final four of the District 55 All-Star Tournament.

That’s pretty big news, since no Laguna team -- at any level of

play -- has won a district title.

“It’s kind of unexpected, the way this team has advanced,” said

Junior All-Star Manager, Tom Pierce, after his team had recorded its

most impressive victory of the tournament.

Tuesday night at Windrow Park in Irvine, Laguna survived Rancho

Santa Margarita, 6-5, in a fight-to-the-finish, 10-inning elimination

game of the double-elimination tournament.

The biggest highlight among many highlights turned in by Laguna

players was the pitching of Nathan Pickett.

The 14-year-old right-hander went the entire 10 innings and left a

lasting impression on Pierce.

In fact, Pickett cemented a standout pitching performance by

striking out the Rancho Santa Margarita side in the bottom of the

10th to secure the win.

“Nathan was nothing short of incredible out there,” Pierce said.

“He was even stronger in the 10th inning than at any point of the

game.”

Pickett was backed by several key defensive plays that included

stops by right-fielder Michael Porter and the strong infield play of

John Wes Robinson.

Offensively, Laguna pieced together a couple of big hits with

smart base running.

Devin Hands and Trevor Pierce, the son of the manager, took

command of the base paths.

Laguna won the game despite playing with a depleted roster that

was down to nine available players.

What made Tuesday’s victory even more impressive to Pierce was

that it came on the heels of an 11-1 loss to Rancho Niguel last

Saturday.

That setback was the first for Laguna which opened the tournament

with a 13-1 drubbing of Tijeras Creek, then followed that triumph

with a 3-1 decision over Trabuco.

Laguna was to play Viejo in an elimination game Thursday night at

Windrow Park.

“It’s unbelievable what this team has accomplished so far,” Tom

Pierce said. “We have a lineup that’s been hit by injury but these

kids are giving it their all. I think this probably is the furthest a

Laguna team has gone in this tournament. We hope to keep on going.”