First Team Nolan downs top seed

First Team Nolan rode the pitching of Austin Hilleman and a potent

offense to stun top-seed SG Roofing, 13-6, in Laguna Beach Little

League AAA Division postseason playoff action at Riddle Field.

Hilleman limited a powerful SG Roofing offense to just three hits

and was backed by an offense that gave him plenty of breathing room.

While Hilleman was on his game, First Team Nolan’s offense was on

fire as it opened up a commanding 11-0 lead.

John Gavin had a two-RBI sacrifice in the first inning, Travis

Sampson delivered a three-run hit in the second inning and Ben Hanson

had a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the third inning as Team Nolan

staked its way to an 11-0 lead.

Other key hits in the first five innings were a double by Hilleman

and a single by Sebastian Schott.

SG Roofing cracked the scoreboard in the fifth inning as an Alex

Gromet single and five walks led to six runs.

Sampson singled and Gavin was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the

fifth, and both came around to score to make the final 13-6.

In other games:

First Team Nolan 15, Prudential 11

First Team Nolan came back from an early two-run deficit, then

held off Prudential for its second postseason tournament win.

Prudential led, 6-4, after one inning. Doubles by Austin Hilleman

and Luke Barker and singles by Remington Zona, John Gavin and Ben

Hanson led to Team Nolan’s four runs.

Hilleman and Zona both doubled in the second inning followed by

singles by Travis Sampson and Adam Donchess as Team Nolan erupted for

five more runs for a 9-6 lead.

But Prudential countered in the bottom-half of the second when

Woody Carey walked, Brendan Ferguson singled and Travis Clauson drew

a walk before Sean Piegden’s sacrifice fly scored two runs.

Team Nolan broke away from a 9-9 tie in the fifth.

In that inning, Hilleman, Sampson and Sebastian Schott all singled

and three walks ensued, leading to four runs and a 13-9 lead.

The advantage grew to 15-9 on Sampson’s two-out, two-run single.

Prudential scored two more runs when Andrew Jensen connected on a

fastball for his first home run of the season.