VFW shuts out Capo

VFW got its bats going early and scored often in routing the San Juan

Capistrano Pirates, 12-0, in a Majors Division game called by the

mercy rule after four innings.

Starting pitcher Rex Strombotne allowed the Pirates only one hit

in the first three innings. He also had a hand in the game’s first

run as he hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second.

But it was third inning when VFW wrapped up the win.

Colin Ceithaml, James Lavery and Matt Neev led the rally by

loading the bases, and Tyler Pierce followed with a two-run double.

With bases loaded again, Strombotne singled to drive in two more

runs.

Larry Stewart also produced a three-run double during the scoring

spree and its by Grif Fair followed by Patrick Stevens led to two

more runs.

In other Majors Division games:

VFW 5, Yankees 4

VFW used a sixth-inning rally to overtake the host San Juan

Capistrano Yankees.

The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning and appeared

headed for an easy victory when VFW began to mount its rally.

With two out in the top of the fifth, Patrick Stevens’ single

scored Larry Stewart to make it 3-1. In the sixth, base hits by Santi

Pierini and Rex Strombotne set up an RBI single by Blake Hester.

Reigel was then walked, and with two out and the bases loaded and

facing two strikes, Grif Fair hit a two-run base hit to give VFW its

first lead, 4-3.

The rally continued when Stevens notched his second RBI of the

night, which scored Reigel, for a 5-3 lead.

The Yankees got a home run in the bottom of the sixth, but VFW

held on for the victory.

Team Hobie 16, Pirates 9

Team Hobie rebounded from a recent 4-3 defeat to the San Juan

Dodgers to beat the San Juan Pirates on the road.

Hobie got off to a quick start when Nick Bishop, the game’s first

batter, drove a line drive into left field. Back-to-back doubles by

Shane Selfridge and Spencer Freidenrich followed, putting Hobie on

the scoreboard.

Sawyer Pierce also hit a double in the inning.

Hobie broke the game open in the second inning, as Michael

Kimball, Kirk Knott, Remington Zona and Cody Alter all reached base

and scored.

Selfridge, who started on the mound, held the Pirates in check.

The 11-year-old left-hander locked down the Pirates in the first

two innings, allowing no hits and striking out four batters.

Pierce, another lefty, then made his 2005 pitching debut by

relieving Selfridge.

He went on to record four strikeouts and allowed two hits in two

innings.

Jack Pillsbury tossed one inning and didn’t give up a hit while

striking out a pair, and Morgan Curry finished the game.

When the game had ended, Hobie had racked up its 16 runs on 16

hits. Selfridge led the way with four hits, which included three

doubles. Freidenrich, Bishop, Pillsbury and Knott each had two hits.