Rotary Wins Little League’s Major Division

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4 little league photo-1Team Rotary won the championship game 2-0 against Team Hobie in the majors division of Laguna Beach Little League on Wednesday at Riddle Field.

The two top seeded teams from the regular season met for a final game-winner take all affair.

Both teams displayed stingy defense, remarkable pitching and robust hitting throughout the post season to reach the final game.

Led by each teams respective aces, Brooks Hogenauer for Rotary and Jeremy Hayes for Hobie, a classic pitchers duel ensued.

Rotary’s lead off batter and season home run leader Nolan Smith led off the bottom of the first inning and smashed a 2-2 Hayes fastball over the right center fence for a 1-0 lead.

The second Rotary batter, George Williams, lined a sharp grounder to short and legged out an infield hit. After stealing second and third base, Williams stole home on a passed ball.

Hogenauer skillfully led Team Rotary through the fifth inning and his Hobie counterpart Hayes pitched a complete game, seemingly getting stronger as the game progressed.

Team Rotary handed the closing duties off to Nolan Smith in the top of the sixth and Hobie’s final opportunity at bat.

Milo Zegowitz led off the inning for Hobie with a single down the third base line, bringing the tying run to the plate. After two Hobie groundouts, the visitors brought up season runner-up in homers, Hayes.  Sensing that Smith and Rotary would not give him a ball over the plate, Hayes stretched across the plate and connected on a Smith outside fastball that rocketed to the warning track in right field where Rotary’s Kyle Juergans made the catch to seal the victory.

Rotary is coached by Rob Smith while Mike Fink leads the Hobie team.

Both teams qualified for the Little League Tournament of Champions, which will take place shortly.

 

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