McKenna Porsche vs Angels 21-13
McKenna Porsche Outruns Laguna Hills’ Angels
By Shelley Detweiler, Special to the Independent
The inter-league juniors division game between Laguna Beach’s McKenna Porsche and Laguna Hills’ Angels proved the epitome of Little League baseball: it took parents from both teams to resolve challenges over the field, umpire, scheduling and players before the game took place last Saturday, April 28, at Alta Laguna Park.
Laguna got an early lead with Carter Monacell, Ian Detweiler and Henry Schineller coming home in the first inning. Bayley Thomas then took the mound striking out two players and Laguna allowed only one run.
Second inning found Laguna’s infield working hard as William Bonn, Jack Dickinson and Sean Conley kept the next three Angels batters from getting on base. Top of the third, Porsche’s engines were up and running as Conley, Dickinson, Matthew Kerfoot, Jack Smith, and Aaron Sweet all crossed home. Angels rallied back with four runs to close the inning 8-5.
The energy level was running “hot” on both sides. Porsche’s Dickinson started the fifth by driving the ball into left field to earn a double. Kerfoot whacked one into right field for a triple and an RBI. Smith, Sweet and Zane Herr proceeded to load the bases, with Monacell earning an RBI as Smith came home. Detweiler jacked one into left field for a double and his teammates (Sweet, Herr, Monacell, Thomas, Schineller, and Conley) continued to cross home with McKenna Porsche earning another 10 runs! The Angels battled back to bring the score to 18-11.
Laguna Hills defense was strong, as they quickly shut down Laguna in the sixth. Angels were now top of their order and promptly loaded the bases. Porsche fired back as left fielder Sweet threw to shortstop Bonn, who relayed to catcher Detweiler to tag out Angel’s Miller as he tried to cross home. The plays continued with Schineller throwing to Dickinson to get Gibson out at first, and a Bonn to Dickinson to Monacell combo to get Angel’s Garcia out at second. Angels worked hard to score runs from Stephen and Jaffe and the score was now 18-13.
Top of the seventh, Porsche stretched their lead with three more runs earned by Schineller, Dickinson and Bonn. Closing pitcher, Monacell took the mound for Laguna and proceeded to strike out three of the next four batters to seal Porsche’s win.
By the end of this 3.5 hour game, every Laguna player had crossed home plate at least once! Rumor has it they had a secret motivation…Manager’s birthday? Powerade? Candy? We may never know.
Shelley Detweiler is the Laguna Beach Little League secretary.
