Defense leads to Bears triumph

The H.B. Bears, and the Green and Black Dudes played on even terms throughout most of their match Saturday in a battle for the championship of the 9-and-Under Division of AYSO Region 56 (Southeast Huntington Beach), and it was the Bears who won the title by virtue of a hard-fought, 1-0 victory.

Keegan Coleman scored the lone goal.

Leading the way on defense for both teams was Coleman for the Bears, and Max and Mateo Rivera for the Green and Black Dudes. Ezequiel Linares had a big save in the opening half and Clay Culhane’s play in the net in the second half helped ensure the Bears a shutout win.

The Bears’ defense has allowed just four goals in nine matches.

Cobe Mahan and Jimmy Davis led the offense for the Bears, and Blake Cass took charge offensively for the Green and Black Dudes.

Clayton Cannon, Shelton Carr, Christopher Marks and Nathan Ivers also gave key performances for the Bears who finished league play with a 7-0-2 record.

In youth baseball

The 14-and-Under H.B. Vikings Baseball Club team captured an Amateur Athletic Union Veterans Day National Invitational Tournament qualifier last weekend in San Clemente by scoring a 5-1 victory over the Newport Beach Bat Rays in the championship game.

In four tournament games, the Vikings defense allowed just five total runs.

The 14-and-Under team is Payton Lobdell, Shane Grace, Wyatt Applebury, Austin Baker, Trevor Zeller, Derek Weiser, Dustin Wagers, Frankie Padulo, Greg Igei, Keegan Reeser and Alex Waked.

By winning the tournament, the Vikings have qualified for the 2008 AAU National Championship Tournament at the Disney Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

In middle school volleyball

The Dwyer Middle School sixth/seventh-grade boys’ volleyball team won its second-straight district championship by sweeping host Harbor Day, 25-18, 25-14, last Friday in Corona del Mar.

In going undefeated this year, Dwyer didn’t lose a single game in match competition.

The team is Alex Robertson, Tyler Strong, Peter Goode, AJ Garrity, Evan Kurth, Dylan Walter, Matt Butler, Billy Fay, Andrew Tenbrink, Davis Tominaga Nick Tran and Coach Scott Bradbury.

Butler, Fay, Tenbrink and Tominaga also played on the Dwyer team that won last year’s district title.