Rotary ties up Sportsworld

Behind the hitting and pitching, Shane Takabayashi and Alek Burk, and

an error-free defense, Rotary defeated Sportsworld, 5-3, to create a

first-place tie between the teams in the Laguna Beach Little League

Majors Division standings.

Down 1-0, Rotary tied the score in the second inning as

Takabayashi and Travis Sampson each singled. One out later, Brogan

O’Bryan and Tyler Kesler each walked to force in the tying run.

Rotary took the lead for good in the third inning as Burk singled,

Michael Hyden walked and Alec Loechner singled to score both base

runners for a 3-1 lead.

Takabayashi followed with a double to deep right field, which

plated Loechner to stretch the lead to 4-1.

Sportsworld came right back in the fourth inning, however, as Alex

Iannotti sent a fastball over the centerfield fence at Riddle Field

for a two-run homerun, which narrowed the Rotary lead to 4-3.

Drew Wheeler was hit by a pitch and advanced to third base before

Takabayashi recorded an inning-ending strikeout to preserve the

one-run lead.

In the fifth inning, Rotary added an insurance run when Burk

singled for the third time and Hyden followed with an RBI hit up the

middle.

That two-run cushion proved to be enough, as Takabayashi sent down

in order the final six Sportsworld batters.

Both teams were outstanding defensively, as neither committed an

error.

For Rotary, Loechner, Hyden, Takabayashi and Jake Glazer shined in

the infield and Ryan Takabayashi caught six innings.

For Sportsworld, Contursi pitched three innings and recorded five

strikeouts, and Austin Paxson gave up two hits and struck out four

over the final two innings.

Travis Clawson singled for Sportsworld.